Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 22 categories
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
Kansas City
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Kansas City
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,131)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 40°F
Households earn $2,618 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $27k less ($208,900 vs $236,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Huntsville by $2,618/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$2,618
$67,874 vs $65,256/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
69% lower
483.2 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$27k less
$208,900 vs $236,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,131 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 223⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 37.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 38.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 22 categories. Huntsville wins 14 and Kansas City wins 8. 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 Huntsville to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $208,900 median home), income ($67,874 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Kansas City, MO are about 535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.