Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($141,900 vs $311,100)
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $56,957/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $56,957 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Montgomery
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$169k less
$141,900 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$56,957
$111,123 vs $54,166/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
84% lower
95.9 vs 594.6 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 7 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $311,100 median home), income ($54,166 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Pearland, TX are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.