Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Montgomery leads 18 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $57k less ($141,900 vs $198,500)
33% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
Households earn $6,489 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Montgomery by $6,489/yr
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Income
$6,489
$54,166 vs $47,677/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
33% lower
594.6 vs 891.4 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$57k less
$141,900 vs $198,500
Montgomery
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Montgomery
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| 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) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 18 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 18 and Springfield wins 5. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $198,500 median home), income ($54,166 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Springfield, MA are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.