Montgomery
Alabama, USA
#13 in USA
75
Overall Score
VS
Prattville
Alabama, USA
#14 in USA
75
Overall Score
Montgomery scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Montgomery
Prattville
Livability
75
75
Affordability
86
85
Business
74
70
Growth
72
72
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Cost of Living

Prattville is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 1% higher compared to Montgomery. Housing costs are a major driver: Montgomery's average rent is 16% lower than Prattville's.
MetricMontgomeryPrattvilleDiff
Average Rent
$1,180$1,407-16%
Groceries
$470$400+18%
Utilities
$195$180+8%
Transport
$160$120+33%
Healthcare
$380$250+52%
Monthly Total
$2,385$2,357+1%
Cost Index
8791out of 100

Salary & Income

Montgomery offers 9% higher average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Montgomery delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Montgomery is estimated at $50,000 vs $56,280 in Prattville.
MetricMontgomeryPrattville
Average Salary
$56,000$51,379
Salary Needed
$50,000$56,280
Purchasing Power
64,368 idx56,460 idx
Household Income
$53,400$81,337

Climate Comparison

Montgomery runs warmer on average — a 66°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Montgomery comes out ahead with 220 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Montgomery sees 0.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricMontgomeryPrattville
Avg Temp
66.00°F°F
Summer High
92.00°F°F
Winter Low
38.00°F°F
Rainfall
51.00 in in
Snowfall
0.20 in in
Sunny Days
220
Humidity
71.00%70.00%

Commute & Transport

Montgomery has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Prattville. Montgomery scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Montgomery leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricMontgomeryPrattville
Commute Time
21 min27 min
Transit Score
38.4/1010.0/10
Walkability
42.0/1018.0/10
Traffic Index
44.3045.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh
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Economy & Demographics

Montgomery is the larger city — approximately 4.8x the population of Prattville. From a growth perspective, Prattville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Prattville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricMontgomeryPrattville
Population
198,21841,200
Pop. Growth
0.60%1.96%
Median Age
35.936.9
Unemployment
4.30%2.10%
GDP
$29.8B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Montgomery
Prattville
Advantages
Cost of living is significantly lower than the U.S. average, making it highly affordable.
High livability score of 75 out of 100, ranking in the 88th percentile of U.S. cities.
Low unemployment rate of 2.1% as of April 2026, indicating a strong job market.
Highly rated public schools and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Access to quality healthcare services through Prattville Baptist Hospital, recognized for patient safety.
Drawbacks
High car dependency with low walkability (Walk Score 18) and minimal public transit options.
Average commute time of 27 minutes is slightly above the national average.
Limited amenities compared to larger metropolitan areas, receiving a 'D' rating in some assessments.
Some reports indicate a noticeable smell from a paper factory in town.
While growing, the community may have fewer events targeted at teens or young adults compared to larger cities.
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Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Montgomery
#13
Alabama, USA
75.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,180
Avg Salary
$56,000
Cost Index
87
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.4/10
Walkability
42.0/10
Sunny Days
220/yr
Avg Temp
66.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.60%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
75
Business
74
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Prattville
#14
Alabama, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,407
Avg Salary
$51,379
Cost Index
91
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
10.0/10
Walkability
18.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.96%
Unemployment
2.10%
Livability
75
Business
70
View Full Profile

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