Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($141,900 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,290)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $23,402/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
71% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $23,402 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Montgomery
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$251k less
$141,900 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$23,402
$77,568 vs $54,166/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
71% lower
174.5 vs 594.6 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 46 ✓ 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 (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 10 and Orem wins 13. 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $392,900 median home), income ($54,166 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Orem, UT are about 1,512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.