Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 21 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 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1
Median Household Income
$71,293 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $52k less ($141,900 vs $193,500)
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,282)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Odessa by $17,127/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
47% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $17,127 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.1 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$52k less
$141,900 vs $193,500
Odessa
Median Income
$17,127
$71,293 vs $54,166/yr
Odessa
Violent Crime
47% lower
316.3 vs 594.6 per 100k
Odessa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.1 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $193,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $71,293 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 59.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 21 categories. Montgomery wins 13 and Odessa wins 8. 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $193,500 median home), income ($54,166 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Odessa, TX are about 941 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.