Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 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
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($141,900 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.9%)
Median income trails Wilmington by $4,742/yr
Wilmington, NC
Pros
19% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,742 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Montgomery
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$177k less
$141,900 vs $318,600
Montgomery
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Median Income
$4,742
$58,908 vs $54,166/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.8 vs 594.6 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 12 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $318,600 median home), income ($54,166 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Wilmington, NC are about 501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.