Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($141,900 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $832/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $28,471/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,471 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Montgomery
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Montgomery
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$280k less
$141,900 vs $421,400
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$28,471
$82,637 vs $54,166/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.5 vs 594.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 13 and Moreno Valley 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 Montgomery to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $421,400 median home), income ($54,166 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,787 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.