Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Montgomery
Homes cost $40k less ($101,500 vs $141,900)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($809 vs $1,026)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Montgomery by $11,031/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Households earn $11,031 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Violent Crime
37% lower
375.6 vs 594.6 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$40k less
$101,500 vs $141,900
Montgomery
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 91.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$11,031
$54,166 vs $43,135/yr
Montgomery
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $141,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 11 and Montgomery wins 12. 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 Erie to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $141,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Montgomery, AL are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.