Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 17 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Huntsville
Alabama
17
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
15% less violent crime than Huntsville
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Huntsville
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($236,300 vs $411,700)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,452)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$1,563
$69,437 vs $67,874/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
15% lower
410.2 vs 483.2 per 100k
Huntsville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$175k less
$236,300 vs $411,700
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $67,874 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 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 | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 2.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 215,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 17 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 6 and Huntsville wins 17. 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 Gresham to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $236,300 median home), income ($69,437 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Huntsville, AL are about 2,016 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.