Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Homes cost $541k less ($236,300 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $957/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $12,397/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Huntsville
Households earn $12,397 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Huntsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$541k less
$236,300 vs $777,100
Huntsville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Huntsville
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$12,397
$80,271 vs $67,874/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
10% lower
436.2 vs 483.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Huntsville wins 14 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $777,100 median home), income ($67,874 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and Westminster, CA are about 1,791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.