Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Huntsville leads 12 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($236,300 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,290)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $9,694/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Huntsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $9,694 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Huntsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$157k less
$236,300 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$9,694
$77,568 vs $67,874/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
64% lower
174.5 vs 483.2 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 12 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 12 and Orem wins 11. 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $392,900 median home), income ($67,874 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Orem, UT are about 1,425 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.