Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($236,300 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $669/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,689)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Longmont by $21,846/yr
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $21,846 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$252k less
$236,300 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$21,846
$89,720 vs $67,874/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
3% lower
469.3 vs 483.2 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 124⚠ 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) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 9 and Longmont wins 14. 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $488,100 median home), income ($67,874 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Longmont, CO are about 1,081 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.