Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Jersey City leads 12 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $36,985 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $358k less ($141,900 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $36,985/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$36,985
$91,151 vs $54,166/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
6% lower
561.6 vs 594.6 per 100k
Jersey City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$358k less
$141,900 vs $500,100
Montgomery
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 12 of 23 categories. Jersey City 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 Jersey City to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $141,900 median home), income ($91,151 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Montgomery, AL are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.