Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Montgomery
Alabama
13
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,691 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $404k less ($141,900 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1021/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,047)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $44,691/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$44,691
$98,857 vs $54,166/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
16% lower
498.0 vs 594.6 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$404k less
$141,900 vs $546,200
Montgomery
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Montgomery wins 13. 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 Fairfield to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $141,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Montgomery, AL are about 2,044 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.