Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena 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
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $840k less ($141,900 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $1074/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,100)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $43,652/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,652 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Montgomery
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
$840k less
$141,900 vs $981,600
Montgomery
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$43,652
$97,818 vs $54,166/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
19% lower
480.4 vs 594.6 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 10 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $981,600 median home), income ($54,166 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Pasadena, CA are about 1,838 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.