Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 12 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Huntsville
Alabama
12
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
65% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $26,314 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Rent averages $577/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $105k less ($236,300 vs $341,700)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 107°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $26,314/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$26,314
$94,188 vs $67,874/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
65% lower
166.8 vs 483.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 88.1°F
Huntsville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$105k less
$236,300 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 11 and Huntsville wins 12. 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 Buckeye to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $236,300 median home), income ($94,188 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Huntsville, AL are about 1,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.