Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Huntsville
Alabama
16
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($170,700 vs $236,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Huntsville by $5,496/yr
Huntsville, AL
Pros
31% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 31°F
Households earn $5,496 more per year on average
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 Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$66k less
$170,700 vs $236,300
Huntsville
Median Income
$5,496
$67,874 vs $62,378/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
31% lower
483.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.8 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $236,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,020 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $236,300 median home), income ($62,378 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Huntsville, AL are about 606 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.