Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 11 of 19 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($141,900 vs $283,300)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,621)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Palm Coast by $14,658/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $14,658 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Montgomery
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$141k less
$141,900 vs $283,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Median Income
$14,658
$68,824 vs $54,166/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 11 of 19 categories. Montgomery wins 8 and Palm Coast wins 11. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $283,300 median home), income ($54,166 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Palm Coast, FL are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.