What are the schools like in Huntsville, AL?

Huntsville is served primarily by Huntsville City. The district operates 26 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.8:1.

What is the median household income in Huntsville?

The median household income in Huntsville, AL is $67,874 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Huntsville, AL?

Huntsville has an average high temperature of 50.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.4 inches.

Huntsville, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Huntsville, AL affordable or expensive?

Huntsville's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Huntsville is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $236,300 and the median rent is $1,020 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Huntsville, AL?

Huntsville has a violent crime rate of 483.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2388.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Huntsville, AL a Good Place to Live?

Huntsville is a mid-sized city of 215,025 in Alabama, with a median household income of $67,874 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Huntsville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Huntsville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Huntsville city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 94.8

Huntsville's overall cost of living index is 94.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Huntsville costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Huntsville, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$236,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,020	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,874	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Huntsville's violent crime rate is 483.2 per 100,000 residents — 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

483.2 /100k

Property Crime

2388.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Huntsville is served primarily by Huntsville City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Huntsville, AL	National Avg
School District	Huntsville City	—
Elementary Schools	26	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	45.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Huntsville sees average highs of 50.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July, with 54.2 inches of annual precipitation and 2.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Huntsville, AL
Average High — January	50.3°F
Average High — July	88.1°F
Annual Precipitation	54.2"
Annual Snowfall	2.4"

Demographics

Metric	Huntsville, AL	National Avg
Population	215,025	—
Median Age	36.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	59.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	30.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.6%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	19.4%	22.2%
65 and over	16.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Moores Mill, AL 5 mi Meridianville, AL 7 mi New Market, AL 10 mi Redstone Arsenal, AL 10 mi Hazel Green, AL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Huntsville

Huntsville, AL is covered by 17 ZIP codes:

35756 35810 35803 35802 35806 35763 35801 35811 35824 35805 35741 35748 35816 35757 35773 35754 35896

Huntsville vs Other Cities

Huntsville, AL vs Moores Mill, AL Huntsville, AL vs Meridianville, AL Huntsville, AL vs New Market, AL Huntsville, AL vs Redstone Arsenal, AL Huntsville, AL vs Hazel Green, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Huntsville, AL affordable or expensive?

Huntsville's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Huntsville roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $236,300 and median rent is $1,020/month.

What is the crime rate in Huntsville, AL?

Huntsville's violent crime rate is 483.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2388.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Huntsville?

Public schools in Huntsville are operated by Huntsville City. The district has 26 elementary, 11 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 45.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Huntsville, AL a good place to live?

Huntsville, AL has a population of 215,025, a median household income of $67,874, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Huntsville?

Huntsville averages 50.3°F in January and 88.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.2 inches with about 2.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Huntsville?

Huntsville, AL is covered by 17 ZIP codes: 35756, 35810, 35803, 35802, 35806, 35763, 35801, 35811, 35824, 35805, 35741, 35748, 35816, 35757, 35773, 35754, 35896.

What is the population of Huntsville?

The population of Huntsville, Alabama is 215,025 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Huntsville?

Key numbers for living in Huntsville: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $236,300, median household income $67,874, crime index 122 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Huntsville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.