Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Huntsville leads 12 of 21 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $18,977 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($155,200 vs $236,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $18,977/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$18,977
$67,874 vs $48,897/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
68% lower
483.2 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$81k less
$155,200 vs $236,300
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 12 of 21 categories. Huntsville wins 12 and Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $155,200 median home), income ($67,874 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 212 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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