Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($141,900 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $334/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than West Valley City
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $27,553/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $27,553 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$192k less
$141,900 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$27,553
$81,719 vs $54,166/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
21% lower
469.5 vs 594.6 per 100k
West Valley City
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 14 and West Valley City wins 9. 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $333,600 median home), income ($54,166 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and West Valley City, UT are about 1,534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.