Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Huntsville
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
61% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $21,907 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($168,900 vs $236,300)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Rent averages $75/mo less ($945 vs $1,020)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $21,907/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$21,907
$67,874 vs $45,967/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
61% lower
483.2 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$67k less
$168,900 vs $236,300
Shreveport
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 19.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Huntsville wins 11 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $168,900 median home), income ($67,874 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Shreveport, LA are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.