Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.6%)
15% less violent crime than Pasadena
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,159)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($171,600 vs $236,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Huntsville
Median income trails Huntsville by $3,176/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$3,176
$67,874 vs $64,698/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
15% lower
483.2 vs 566.1 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$65k less
$171,600 vs $236,300
Pasadena
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 16 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $171,600 median home), income ($67,874 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Pasadena, TX are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.