Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Huntsville leads 17 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Tacoma
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($236,300 vs $415,300)
55% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $469/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,489)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tacoma by $11,211/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $11,211 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Huntsville
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Violent Crime
55% lower
483.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$179k less
$236,300 vs $415,300
Huntsville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$11,211
$79,085 vs $67,874/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 17 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 17 and Tacoma wins 6. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $415,300 median home), income ($67,874 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Tacoma, WA are about 2,038 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.