Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $10,716 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
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
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $148/mo less ($878 vs $1,026)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Montgomery by $10,716/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Median Income
$10,716
$54,166 vs $43,450/yr
Montgomery
Violent Crime
50% lower
594.6 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Montgomery
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $146,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 13 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $146,400 median home), income ($54,166 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Springfield, MO are about 520 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.