Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($141,900 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 24°F
14% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 St. Paul by $15,753/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $15,753 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Montgomery
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Violent Crime
4% lower
594.6 vs 617.7 per 100k
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$123k less
$141,900 vs $264,900
Montgomery
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$15,753
$69,919 vs $54,166/yr
St. Paul
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ 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+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 13 and St. Paul 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $264,900 median home), income ($54,166 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and St. Paul, MN are about 945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.