Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Kenosha leads 12 of 22 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Montgomery
Alabama
10
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
52% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $10,797 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $53k less ($141,900 vs $194,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 31°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kenosha by $10,797/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Income
$10,797
$64,963 vs $54,166/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
52% lower
285.7 vs 594.6 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$53k less
$141,900 vs $194,400
Montgomery
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 12 of 22 categories. Kenosha wins 12 and Montgomery wins 10. 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 Kenosha to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($64,963 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Montgomery, AL are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.