Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
58% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Homes cost $92k less ($236,300 vs $328,700)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,267)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 22°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Minneapolis by $8,458/yr
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $8,458 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Violent Crime
58% lower
483.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$92k less
$236,300 vs $328,700
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$8,458
$76,332 vs $67,874/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 16 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $328,700 median home), income ($67,874 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Minneapolis, MN are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.