Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Huntsville leads 20 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Kent
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($236,300 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $722/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.6%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails Kent by $19,092/yr
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,092 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Huntsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$242k less
$236,300 vs $478,400
Huntsville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$19,092
$86,966 vs $67,874/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 20 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 20 and Kent wins 3. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $478,400 median home), income ($67,874 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Kent, WA are about 2,029 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.