Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $39,130 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($141,900 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $522/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $39,130/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Median Income
$39,130
$93,296 vs $54,166/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
75% lower
146.8 vs 594.6 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$284k less
$141,900 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 13 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 Meridian to Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $141,900 median home), income ($93,296 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Montgomery, AL are about 1,803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.