Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($236,300 vs $307,700)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $155/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,175)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Huntsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Huntsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$1,391
$67,874 vs $66,483/yr
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$71k less
$236,300 vs $307,700
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
50% lower
242.1 vs 483.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 14 and Spokane Valley wins 9. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $307,700 median home), income ($67,874 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,810 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.