Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Quincy 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
Quincy
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $421k less ($141,900 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,901)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $36,502/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $36,502 more per year on average
44% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Montgomery
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$421k less
$141,900 vs $563,200
Montgomery
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$36,502
$90,668 vs $54,166/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
44% lower
335.1 vs 594.6 per 100k
Quincy
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 52.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Quincy leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 10 and Quincy 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $563,200 median home), income ($54,166 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Quincy, MA are about 1,080 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.