Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Huntsville
Alabama
13
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($236,300 vs $466,300)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,385)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.6%)
7% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 88.1°F
Huntsville
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$3,395
$67,874 vs $64,479/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
7% lower
483.2 vs 518.1 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$230k less
$236,300 vs $466,300
Huntsville
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 10 and Huntsville wins 13. 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 Arden-Arcade to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $236,300 median home), income ($64,479 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Huntsville, AL are about 1,937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.