Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Montgomery leads 11 of 20 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Savannah
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($141,900 vs $203,300)
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,216)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Savannah
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Savannah, GA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Montgomery
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$61k less
$141,900 vs $203,300
Savannah
Median Income
$582
$54,748 vs $54,166/yr
Savannah
Violent Crime
97% lower
20.3 vs 594.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $203,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,216 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $54,748 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 52.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 147,583 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 11 of 20 categories. Montgomery wins 11 and Savannah wins 9. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $203,300 median home), income ($54,166 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Savannah, GA are about 297 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.