Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 22 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
22% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $16,351 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($162,000 vs $236,300)
Rent averages $103/mo less ($917 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntsville by $16,351/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$16,351
$67,874 vs $51,523/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
22% lower
483.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$74k less
$162,000 vs $236,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 22 categories. Huntsville wins 14 and Roanoke wins 8. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $162,000 median home), income ($67,874 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Roanoke, VA are about 406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.