Jonesboro AR vs Montgomery AL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Montgomery, AL

Alabama · Population: 198,440

Median HH Income$55,687
Median Home Price$151,721
Unemployment6.5%
Bachelor's+33.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

198,440

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

36.2

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

5.5%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

27.7%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

63.0%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

3.3%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

4.8%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Population	N/A	198,440	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	36.2	-
Foreign Born	N/A	5.5%	-
White	N/A	27.7%	-
Black	N/A	63.0%	-
Asian	N/A	3.3%	-
Hispanic	N/A	4.8%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

$55,687

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

$32,068

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Jonesboro +

Montgomery

$51,690

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

6.5%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

20.9%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

33.5%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$55,687	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$32,068	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$51,690	Jonesboro +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	6.5%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	20.9%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	33.5%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Montgomery

$151,721

Montgomery +

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

54.3%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$151,721	Montgomery +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	54.3%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Montgomery

400

Montgomery +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Montgomery

1734

Montgomery +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	400	Montgomery +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	1734	Montgomery +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Montgomery

46.4%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Montgomery

16.7%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Montgomery

17.6%

Montgomery +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Montgomery

11.0%

Montgomery +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Montgomery

12.4%

Montgomery +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Montgomery

15.3%

Montgomery +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	46.4%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	16.7%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	17.6%	Montgomery +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	11.0%	Montgomery +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	12.4%	Montgomery +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	15.3%	Montgomery +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Montgomery

64.5°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Montgomery

52.8 in

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	64.5°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	52.8 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Montgomery

8.8 µg/m³

Montgomery +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Montgomery

75.0%

Montgomery +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	8.8 µg/m³	Montgomery +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Montgomery +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Montgomery

22.0 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Montgomery, AL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	22.0 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Montgomery offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $151,721. On public safety, Montgomery is safer with a violent crime rate of 400 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Montgomery has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.8 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Jonesboro & Montgomery

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