Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Toledo
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
54% less violent crime than Toledo
Households earn $22,469 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 34°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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Toledo
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($98,800 vs $236,300)
Rent averages $166/mo less ($854 vs $1,020)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Median income trails Huntsville by $22,469/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$22,469
$67,874 vs $45,405/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
54% lower
483.2 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 84.6°F
Toledo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$138k less
$98,800 vs $236,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 16 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 16 and Toledo wins 7. 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $98,800 median home), income ($67,874 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Toledo, OH are about 502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.