Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Montgomery
Alabama
9
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
Households earn $47,599 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($141,900 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $47,599/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Median Income
$47,599
$101,765 vs $54,166/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
87% lower
78.0 vs 594.6 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$224k less
$141,900 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 14 and Montgomery wins 9. 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 Hoover to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $141,900 median home), income ($101,765 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Montgomery, AL are about 78 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.