Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Huntsville leads 18 of 22 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.6%)
10% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $13,569 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
New Haven, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntsville by $13,569/yr
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$13,569
$67,874 vs $54,305/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
10% lower
483.2 vs 534.8 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.8% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 18 of 22 categories. Huntsville wins 18 and New Haven wins 4. 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 Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $236,500 median home), income ($67,874 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and New Haven, CT are about 865 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.