Montgomery vs Phenix City
Montgomery, Alabama versus Phenix City, Alabama: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Montgomery edges out Phenix City on overall objective livability (51 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Montgomery | Phenix City |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $54k | $47k |
| Cost of Living | $45k | $47k |
| Home Value | $142k | $154k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $923 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.38% | 0.52% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 9.29% | 9.29% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.06% | 9.78% |
| Unemployment | 7.2% | 7.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 48°F | 48°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 82°F | 82°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6 in | 54.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3 in | 0.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 249 days | 262 days |
| Summer Humidity | 71°F | 70°F |
| Comfortable Days | 82 days | 90 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 57.1 | 32.8 |
| Air Quality | 50 AQI | 54 AQI |
| School Quality | 39.7 | 43.6 |
| Violent Crime | 12/100k | 1456/100k |
| Property Crime | 2/100k | 2407/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 199,819 | 38,413 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 35.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.52 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.88 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+32 | D+24 |
| White (%) | 27.8% | 40.3% |
| Black (%) | 62.5% | 47.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.9% | 5.3% |
| Asian (%) | 3.5% | 1.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.3% | 5.4% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 21 min |
| Walkability | 14.7/20 | 9.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 89 mi | 89 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.0% | 75.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 6.16 | 20.57 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Montgomery or Phenix City more affordable?
- Montgomery has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Montgomery's $45k and Phenix City's $47k. Median rent is $1k in Montgomery versus $923 in Phenix City.
- Is Montgomery or Phenix City safer?
- Montgomery has the lower violent crime rate. Montgomery reports 12/100k and Phenix City reports 1456/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Montgomery or Phenix City?
- The median home value is $142k in Montgomery and $154k in Phenix City, so homes are more affordable in Montgomery.