Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Montgomery by $5,269/yr
Montgomery, AL
Pros
60% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $5,269 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$5,269
$54,166 vs $48,897/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
60% lower
594.6 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$13k less
$141,900 vs $155,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.8 |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $54,166 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $141,900 median home), income ($48,897 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Montgomery, AL are about 153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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