Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Huntsville
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $53,385 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Huntsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Rent averages $727/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $154k less ($236,300 vs $390,200)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $53,385/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$53,385
$121,259 vs $67,874/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
78% lower
106.4 vs 483.2 per 100k
Allen
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.1°F
Huntsville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$154k less
$236,300 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 45.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Huntsville wins 7. 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 Allen to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $236,300 median home), income ($121,259 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Huntsville, AL are about 592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.