Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($236,300 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,548)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $25,422/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
70% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $25,422 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$190k less
$236,300 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$25,422
$93,296 vs $67,874/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
70% lower
146.8 vs 483.2 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 10 and Meridian wins 13. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $425,800 median home), income ($67,874 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Meridian, ID are about 1,700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.