Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 20 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Huntsville
Alabama
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $23k less ($213,400 vs $236,300)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntsville by $13,138/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 4.6%)
Huntsville, AL
Pros
41% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $13,138 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 33°F
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,130)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Home Value
$23k less
$213,400 vs $236,300
Huntsville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$13,138
$67,874 vs $54,736/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
41% lower
483.2 vs 816.9 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $236,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 20 of 23 categories. Albany wins 3 and Huntsville wins 20. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $236,300 median home), income ($54,736 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Huntsville, AL are about 875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.