Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($141,900 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $706/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,732)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $36,485/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,485 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Montgomery
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$325k less
$141,900 vs $467,200
Montgomery
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Median Income
$36,485
$90,651 vs $54,166/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
49% lower
303.6 vs 594.6 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 12 and Westminster wins 11. 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 $467,200 median home), income ($54,166 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Westminster, CO are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.