Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Huntsville leads 12 of 22 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($236,300 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1142/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 24 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $43,843/yr
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,843 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Huntsville
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Huntsville
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$381k less
$236,300 vs $617,300
Huntsville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$43,843
$111,717 vs $67,874/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
38% lower
301.4 vs 483.2 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 12 of 22 categories. Huntsville wins 12 and Tracy wins 10. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $617,300 median home), income ($67,874 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Tracy, CA are about 1,945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.