Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
199,819
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($141,900 vs $286,900)
12% less violent crime than Spokane
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 38°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane by $9,150/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.2%)
Spokane, WA
Pros
Households earn $9,150 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Montgomery
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
12% lower
594.6 vs 674.9 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$145k less
$141,900 vs $286,900
Montgomery
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Income
$9,150
$63,316 vs $54,166/yr
Spokane
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 12 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($54,166 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Spokane, WA are about 1,940 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.