Living in Montgomery, AL
Montgomery is the 134th-largest city in the US, home to about 195,000 people in 2025 and the capital of Alabama. It has lost 2.6% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run well below the national average (89.7 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 195,300-2.6% since 2020
- Median home value
- $161,9002.8 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,089/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $56,811median, per year
- Price level
- 89.7US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 60° / 94°lows 37° / 72°
- Average commute
- 21 min8% work from home
- State income tax
- 5%top rate, graduated
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County: Montgomery County
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Elevation: about 240 ft
Metro area: Montgomery, AL
Cost of living in Montgomery
The median home in Montgomery is worth $161,900 and the median household earns $56,811 a year, so a typical home costs about 2.8 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,089 a month, about 23% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Montgomery, AL metro area at 89.7, with housing at 64.3 and goods at 96.4 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $67,300 here. Alabama taxes wages at a top rate of 5%. The average combined state and local sales tax in Alabama is 9.46%.
What would my salary be worth in Montgomery?
Montgomery weather
Average highs run from 60°F in January to 94°F in July, and January nights average 36°F. It gets 51 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are April to May and October to November.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Montgomery
People and work
The median resident is 36.6 years old, and 34% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 54% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 21 minutes; 8% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 36.6275th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 34%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 54%of households
- People per sq mile
- 1,222159.9 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 0%1% walk, 0.1% bike
- Unemployment
- 6.4%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 21.5%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1978median year
Who moves to Montgomery, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Birmingham (Jefferson County), Atlanta (Fulton County) and Mobile (Mobile County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Birmingham (Jefferson County), Huntsville (Madison County) and Baldwin County, AL. See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA rating for Montgomery County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: lightning, tornado, inland flooding, heat wave.
Home prices
+6% in a year
Up 41% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Montgomery, AL area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
64% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Montgomery, AL area (359 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Montgomery
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Alabama State University 6 miles
- Auburn University at Montgomery 4 miles
- Tuskegee University 30 miles
- Faulkner University 5 miles
- Huntingdon College 5 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Montgomery
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport MGM | 11 mi | 193,746 |
| Columbus Airport CSG | 75 mi | 63,422 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Montgomery
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | 6 mi | 3,477 | $9,775 | 31% |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | 4 mi | 2,542 | $13,789 | 35% |
| Faulkner University | 5 mi | 1,549 | $23,416 | 37% |
| Huntingdon College | 5 mi | 879 | $21,852 | 48% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Montgomery
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 13, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 3 and the first frost comes around November 13.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Montgomery Airport, AL, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Montgomery.
Wildfire smoke in Montgomery
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Montgomery on about 150 days a year, including about 19 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Montgomery
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 81,241 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Montgomery
Downtown Montgomery is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County School District | Pre-K to 12 | 26,395 | 50 | 17.6 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Elmore County School District (11,741 students), Pike Road City School District (2,822 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Montgomery's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Montgomery's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Longview, TX86% matchCompare
- Augusta, GA85% matchCompare
- Shreveport, LA83% matchCompare
- Killeen, TX75% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Montgomery
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Pros and cons of living in Montgomery
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Homes are affordable for locals: the median home costs 2.8 years of median household income, lower than in three quarters of the cities we cover.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 10% below the US average (BEA).
- Data Commutes are short: 21 minutes each way on average.
Cons
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.46% on average with local taxes.
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 93 days a year reach 90°F.
Montgomery report card from locals
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Montgomery through locals' eyes
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Cities near Montgomery
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, AL | 47 mi | 85,113 | $364,800 | 87.9 | Compare |
| Columbus, GA | 76 mi | 202,171 | $193,900 | 89.3 | Compare |
| Hoover, AL | 81 mi | 93,550 | $412,200 | 91.6 | Compare |
| Birmingham, AL | 91 mi | 195,893 | $158,800 | 91.6 | Compare |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 99 mi | 114,316 | $255,500 | 87.7 | Compare |
| South Fulton, GA | 131 mi | 112,820 | $309,800 | 100.1 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Montgomery with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Montgomery a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show prices below the national average, homes that cost under four years of median income, short commutes; the trade-offs are 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter, a shrinking population. Compare Montgomery side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Montgomery?
The Census Bureau estimates Montgomery had 195,300 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 200,580 in April 2020 (-2.6%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Montgomery?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,300 in the Montgomery area. The median household here earns $56,811.
When is the best time to visit Montgomery?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, April to May and October to November are the most comfortable months. July averages 94°F and January 60°F for daytime highs.
What county is Montgomery in?
Montgomery is in Montgomery County, Alabama. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Montgomery in?
Montgomery is on Central Time (UTC-6, or UTC-5 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Montgomery?
About 240 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Alabama have a state income tax?
Yes. Alabama has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 5% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Montgomery. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Montgomery, AL metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Montgomery Airport, AL station; snowfall from Milstead, AL. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.