Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $9,972 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($141,900 vs $243,000)
5% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Rent averages $255/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,281)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jacksonville by $9,972/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$9,972
$64,138 vs $54,166/yr
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
5% lower
594.6 vs 623.8 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$101k less
$141,900 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $141,900 median home), income ($64,138 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Montgomery, AL are about 305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.