Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Huntsville
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $27,857 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($236,300 vs $363,800)
52% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $385/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,405)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 21°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $27,857/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$27,857
$95,731 vs $67,874/yr
Huntsville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Violent Crime
52% lower
483.2 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$128k less
$236,300 vs $363,800
Huntsville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 215,025 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 7 and Huntsville wins 16. 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 Anchorage to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $236,300 median home), income ($95,731 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Huntsville, AL are about 3,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.