Montgomery vs Temple
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $161,900 in Montgomery and $239,000 in Temple.
- Households earn more in Temple ($68,204 vs $56,811 median).
- Temple has more scorching days: 118 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 93.
- Temple is growing faster: +19.7% since 2020 vs -2.6%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; Alabama's top rate is 5%.
Side by side
| Montgomery, AL | Temple, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 195,300 | 98,412 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2.6% | +19.7% |
| People per square mile | 1,222 | 1,347 |
| Median age | 36.6 | 33.8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $56,811 | $68,204 |
| Median home value | $161,900 | $239,000 |
| Home value to income | 2.8× | 3.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,089 | $1,231 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 89.7 | 91.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 64.3 | 77.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $67,300 | $68,300 |
| Homeowners | 54% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | 5% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 9.46% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.7 | 21.0 |
| Work from home | 8% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.4% | 6.6% |
| Poverty rate | 21.5% | 16% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 60° / 37° | 60° / 36° |
| July high / low | 94° / 72° | 95° / 72° |
| Precipitation per year | 51 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 93 | 118 |
| Nights below freezing | 37 | 33 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 91.8 | 91.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 64% | 66% |
| Home prices, past year | +6% | +1.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +41% | +39.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Montgomery: April to May and October to November. Temple: March to April and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Montgomery weather by month and Temple weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $67,300 in Montgomery and $68,300 in Temple. Moving from Montgomery to Temple, you would need about $76,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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