Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 22 categories
Gainesville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Montgomery by $10,383/yr
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($141,900 vs $216,600)
19% less violent crime than Gainesville
Households earn $10,383 more per year on average
Rent averages $125/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,151)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Gainesville
Cons
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
Gainesville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$10,383
$54,166 vs $43,783/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
19% lower
594.6 vs 738.0 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$75k less
$141,900 vs $216,600
Montgomery
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 22 categories. Gainesville wins 9 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 Gainesville to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $141,900 median home), income ($43,783 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Montgomery, AL are about 296 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.