Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Huntsville
Alabama
13
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
44% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $11,103 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($236,300 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Collins by $11,103/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$11,103
$78,977 vs $67,874/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
44% lower
272.7 vs 483.2 per 100k
Huntsville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$261k less
$236,300 vs $497,400
Huntsville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 45.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $236,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Huntsville, AL are about 1,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.