Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($141,900 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Median income trails Richmond by $5,440/yr
Richmond, VA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,440 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$166k less
$141,900 vs $308,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Median Income
$5,440
$59,606 vs $54,166/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
43% lower
336.9 vs 594.6 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 12 and Richmond wins 11. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $308,300 median home), income ($54,166 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Richmond, VA are about 613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.