Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 21 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($141,900 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
New Bedford, MA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Montgomery
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$149k less
$141,900 vs $291,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
41% lower
353.2 vs 594.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $54,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 21 categories. Montgomery wins 12 and New Bedford wins 9. 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 New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $291,300 median home), income ($54,166 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and New Bedford, MA are about 1,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.