Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria 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
Peoria
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($141,900 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $32,593/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $32,593 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Montgomery
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$242k less
$141,900 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$32,593
$86,759 vs $54,166/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
57% lower
254.7 vs 594.6 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 7 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $383,600 median home), income ($54,166 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Peoria, AZ are about 1,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.