Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 21 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntsville by $10,171/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Huntsville, AL
Pros
41% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $10,171 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$10,171
$67,874 vs $57,703/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
41% lower
483.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $236,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 21 categories. Chattanooga wins 7 and Huntsville wins 14. 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 Chattanooga to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $236,300 median home), income ($57,703 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Huntsville, AL are about 75 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.