Montgomery AL
Alabama · Pop. 197,494
Montgomery, AL: median household income of $56,811, median rent of $1,089/mo, 6.4% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$56,811
per year
Median Rent
$1,089
per month
Median Home
$162k
home value
Unemployment
6.4%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
21.5%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
21 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Montgomery, AL Reality Check"
In Montgomery, the rent-to-income burden runs around 23% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $56,811 and median rent is $1,089/month. 50% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $161,900 — that's 2.8× the median income. Employment picture: 6.44% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 21.5% — well above the national average. The headline economic numbers hide a bifurcated city. Average commute: 21 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 7/100k avg monthly rate (553 reported); Property crime: 34.3/100k avg monthly rate (2711 reported). Montgomery was founded in 1817 — that's 209 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 161.5 sq miles at 1,223 people/sq mile — sprawling. Elevation: 240 ft — modest elevation. RoastMyCity overall score: 66/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Safety
/100Violent crime: 7/100k avg monthly rate (553 reported); Property crime: 34.3/100k avg monthly rate (2711 reported).