Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Huntsville leads 15 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Households earn $24,424 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($146,400 vs $236,300)
Rent averages $142/mo less ($878 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $24,424/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$24,424
$67,874 vs $43,450/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
59% lower
483.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$90k less
$146,400 vs $236,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 15 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 15 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $146,400 median home), income ($67,874 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Springfield, MO are about 413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.