Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($141,900 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $685/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $29,282/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,282 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) 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
Median Home Value
$344k less
$141,900 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$29,282
$83,448 vs $54,166/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.1% ✓ 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 | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 13 and Riverside wins 10. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $485,500 median home), income ($54,166 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Riverside, CA are about 1,797 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.