City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 159 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Albuquerque makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Huntsville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and Albuquerque has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Albuquerque and Huntsville are 1,135 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $6,397 (9%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 134 in Huntsville, down 159 points (54%).
The move
Huntsville and Albuquerque are 1,135 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $26 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $6,397 (9%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 293 in Albuquerque, up 159 points (119%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 2% cheaper than Huntsville
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Albuquerque is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $26, or $312 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Huntsville's median income is 9% higher than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$68,317
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Huntsville (about $6,397 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 54% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% lower in Huntsville. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Huntsville is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 9% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Albuquerque if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 9% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 54% lower than Albuquerque (134 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Huntsville leads on safety (51/100 vs 27/100 in Albuquerque). Typical rent is $1,171 in Huntsville and $1,145 in Albuquerque; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Albuquerque and 63°F in Huntsville.
Huntsville is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 27/100); Albuquerque is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,145/month rent plus $68,317 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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