Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
52% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (7.2%)
Homes cost $27k less ($141,900 vs $168,900)
Households earn $8,199 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Rent averages $81/mo less ($945 vs $1,026)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Montgomery
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Montgomery by $8,199/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Median Income
$8,199
$54,166 vs $45,967/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
52% lower
594.6 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$27k less
$141,900 vs $168,900
Montgomery
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
7.2% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $168,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 12 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $168,900 median home), income ($54,166 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Shreveport, LA are about 439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.