Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Montgomery
Alabama
14
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Households earn $4,568 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Montgomery, AL
Pros
28% less violent crime than Lubbock
Homes cost $40k less ($141,900 vs $181,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 55°F
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Lubbock by $4,568/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Median Income
$4,568
$58,734 vs $54,166/yr
Lubbock
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.9 on the COL index
Montgomery
Violent Crime
28% lower
594.6 vs 821.0 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$40k less
$141,900 vs $181,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 199,819 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 9 and Montgomery wins 14. 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 Lubbock to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $141,900 median home), income ($58,734 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Montgomery, AL are about 909 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.