Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Montgomery leads 16 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($141,900 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $527/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,553)
7% less violent crime than Rialto
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (7.2%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $26,584/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,584 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
7% lower
594.6 vs 641.7 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$276k less
$141,900 vs $418,300
Montgomery
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$26,584
$80,750 vs $54,166/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 16 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 16 and Rialto wins 7. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $418,300 median home), income ($54,166 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Rialto, CA are about 1,796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.