Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Independence leads 12 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Montgomery
Alabama
11
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Households earn $3,249 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Independence
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.2%)
Median income trails Independence by $3,249/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Median Income
$3,249
$57,415 vs $54,166/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
4% lower
571.2 vs 594.6 per 100k
Independence
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 12 of 23 categories. Independence wins 12 and Montgomery wins 11. 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 Independence to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $141,900 median home), income ($57,415 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Montgomery, AL are about 649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.