Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 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
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $635k less ($141,900 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $951/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,977)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $26,105/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,105 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Montgomery
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Montgomery
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$635k less
$141,900 vs $777,100
Montgomery
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$26,105
$80,271 vs $54,166/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
27% lower
436.2 vs 594.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 14 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 14 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $777,100 median home), income ($54,166 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Westminster, CA are about 1,833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.