Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Huntsville
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Huntsville by $7,434/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Huntsville, AL
Pros
58% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,434 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.1°F
Huntsville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$7,434
$67,874 vs $60,440/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
58% lower
483.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $236,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 215,025 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Houston 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 Houston to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $236,300 median home), income ($60,440 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Huntsville, AL are about 622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.