Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 17 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Montgomery
Alabama
17
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $32,800 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Montgomery
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($141,900 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $716/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,742)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $32,800/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$32,800
$86,966 vs $54,166/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
18% lower
489.7 vs 594.6 per 100k
Montgomery
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$337k less
$141,900 vs $478,400
Montgomery
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 17 of 23 categories. Kent wins 6 and Montgomery wins 17. 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 Kent to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Montgomery, AL are about 2,144 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.