Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($141,900 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $834/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,860)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
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 Norwalk by $37,093/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,093 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Montgomery
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$451k less
$141,900 vs $593,100
Montgomery
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$37,093
$91,259 vs $54,166/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
37% lower
374.4 vs 594.6 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 14 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $593,100 median home), income ($54,166 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Norwalk, CA are about 1,837 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.