Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
Tucson
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
18% less violent crime than Tucson
Households earn $15,825 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Homes cost $18k less ($218,200 vs $236,300)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntsville by $15,825/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$15,825
$67,874 vs $52,049/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
18% lower
483.2 vs 588.8 per 100k
Huntsville
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$18k less
$218,200 vs $236,300
Tucson
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 13 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $218,200 median home), income ($67,874 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Tucson, AZ are about 1,411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.