Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819
Tampa
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($141,900 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,422)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tampa by $12,636/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
25% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $12,636 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$191k less
$141,900 vs $333,200
Montgomery
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.0°F
Tampa
Median Income
$12,636
$66,802 vs $54,166/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
25% lower
444.6 vs 594.6 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 10 and Tampa wins 13. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $333,200 median home), income ($54,166 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Tampa, FL are about 378 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.