Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
6% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $9,953 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $441k less ($141,900 vs $582,400)
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,369)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $9,953/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$9,953
$64,119 vs $54,166/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
6% lower
558.4 vs 594.6 per 100k
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$441k less
$141,900 vs $582,400
Montgomery
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 9 and Montgomery wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from East Los Angeles to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($64,119 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Montgomery, AL are about 1,841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.