Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025
Las Vegas
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($236,300 vs $365,300)
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,356)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
11% less violent crime than Huntsville
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$1,518
$67,874 vs $66,356/yr
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$129k less
$236,300 vs $365,300
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
11% lower
429.8 vs 483.2 per 100k
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $365,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,356⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $66,356 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ 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 | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 6.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 644,835 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Las Vegas's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 14 and Las Vegas wins 9. 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 Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $365,300 median home), income ($67,874 vs $66,356), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Las Vegas, NV are about 1,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.