Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,426)
Homes cost $55k less ($236,300 vs $290,800)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Braunfels by $17,953/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $17,953 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$55k less
$236,300 vs $290,800
New Braunfels
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$17,953
$85,827 vs $67,874/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
68% lower
156.4 vs 483.2 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
New Braunfels
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.4°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
New Braunfels is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories. Huntsville wins 8 and New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $290,800 median home), income ($67,874 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and New Braunfels, TX are about 762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.