Zachary
Louisiana, USA
#28 in USA
72
Overall Score
VS
Montauban
Occitanie, France
#9 in France
70
Overall Score
Zachary scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Zachary
Montauban
Livability
74
75
Affordability
65
80
Business
68
73
Growth
70
70

Cost of Living

Montauban is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 65% higher compared to Zachary. Housing costs are a major driver: Zachary's average rent is 109% higher than Montauban's.
MetricZacharyMontaubanDiff
Average Rent
$1,500$716+109%
Groceries
$450$463-3%
Utilities
$180$208-13%
Transport
$120$58+107%
Healthcare
$250$70+257%
Monthly Total
$2,500$1,515+65%
Cost Index
9670out of 100

Salary & Income

Zachary offers 62% higher average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Zachary delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Zachary is estimated at $55,000 vs $35,000 in Montauban.
MetricZacharyMontauban
Average Salary
$65,000$40,017
Salary Needed
$55,000$35,000
Purchasing Power
67,708 idx57,167 idx
Household Income
$84,480$28,462

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricZacharyMontauban
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
65.00%70.00%

Commute & Transport

Montauban has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Zachary. Montauban scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Montauban leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricZacharyMontauban
Commute Time
28 min20 min
Transit Score
55.0/1060.0/10
Walkability
60.0/1085.0/10
Traffic Index
45.0040.00
Car Dependency
HighMedium

Economy & Demographics

Montauban is the larger city — approximately 0.3x the population of Zachary. From a growth perspective, Zachary is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Zachary has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricZacharyMontauban
Population
20,84264,137
Pop. Growth
1.07%0.63%
Median Age
38.341.8
Unemployment
6.80%7.90%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Zachary
Advantages
Zachary's median household income of $84,480 in 2024 is higher than the national average, indicating a strong economic base for its residents.
The city boasts a violent crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 94% below the national average, making it a very safe place to live.
Housing costs in Zachary are 6% lower than the national average, contributing to a lower overall cost of living.
Lane Regional Medical Center, a 139-bed regional healthcare system established in 1960, provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services to Zachary and surrounding areas.
Zachary's public schools are highly rated, making it an attractive location for families seeking quality education for their children.
Drawbacks
The unemployment rate in Zachary stands at 6.8%, which is higher than the typical considered rate of 4% to 5%.
While Zachary has a lower violent crime rate, its property crime rate is 20 per one thousand population, which is considered above average when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes.
Zachary's average rent of $1,500 per month is higher than the national average rent of $1,464 in the previous year, indicating a slight increase in rental costs.
The average commute time in Zachary is 27.7 minutes, which is longer than the national average commute time.
Zachary's median home value of $270,591 is higher than the national median home value of $251,418.
Montauban
Advantages
The cost of living in Montauban is significantly more affordable than in major French cities like Paris or Lyon.
Montauban boasts a strong startup ecosystem, supported by universities, skilled talent, and a favorable business environment.
The city center is compact and highly walkable, making it easy to explore major attractions on foot.
Montauban offers reliable healthcare services, with the Centre Hospitalier de Montauban serving as a comprehensive regional facility.
The city enjoys a humid subtropical climate with hot, sunny summers and mild winters, conducive to outdoor activities.
Drawbacks
Montauban has a smaller professional ecosystem and a quieter social scene compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Specific city-level data for certain economic indicators like job growth rate and new business creation rate are not readily available.
Direct public transport scores (transit/walkability) are not available, requiring estimation based on qualitative descriptions.
Detailed cost data for home care, assisted living, and nursing homes is not available for Montauban.
The average rent for apartments, while affordable, is significantly lower than the illustrative example values, which might indicate a different market context.

Dive Deeper

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

Zachary
#28
Louisiana, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,500
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
55.0/10
Walkability
60.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.07%
Unemployment
6.80%
Livability
74
Business
68
View Full Profile
Montauban
#9
Occitanie, France
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$716
Avg Salary
$40,017
Cost Index
70
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
60.0/10
Walkability
85.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.63%
Unemployment
7.90%
Livability
75
Business
73
View Full Profile

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