Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Montgomery leads 16 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($141,900 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $376/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
New Haven, CT
Pros
10% less violent crime than Montgomery
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$95k less
$141,900 vs $236,500
Montgomery
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
Montgomery
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Violent Crime
10% lower
534.8 vs 594.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $54,305 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 16 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 16 and New Haven wins 7. 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 Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $236,500 median home), income ($54,166 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and New Haven, CT are about 961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.