Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($236,300 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $533/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,553)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.6%)
25% less violent crime than Rialto
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rialto by $12,876/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,876 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Huntsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Violent Crime
25% lower
483.2 vs 641.7 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$182k less
$236,300 vs $418,300
Huntsville
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$12,876
$80,750 vs $67,874/yr
Rialto
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 16 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $418,300 median home), income ($67,874 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Rialto, CA are about 1,752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.