City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Huntsville. Chicago averages 53°F while Huntsville averages 63°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,171.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Huntsville at $1,171 average has pockets that run $971 and others at $1,571: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and Huntsville are 495 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $269 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $3,188 (4%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 134 in Huntsville, down 33 points (20%).
The move
Huntsville and Chicago are 495 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $269 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $77,902 in Chicago, up $3,188 (4%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 167 in Chicago, up 33 points (25%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 19% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Huntsville is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,228, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Huntsville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Chicago.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Chicago's median income is 4% higher than Huntsville
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Chicago (about $3,188 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
20% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 20% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
42% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 42% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 42% 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 Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,171 a month. Choose Huntsville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Huntsville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (63°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 42%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Huntsville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Chicago (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,171/month rent in Huntsville at 63°F versus $1,440 in Chicago at 53°F. Income runs $74,714 vs $77,902, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $74,714), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Safety scores read 44/100 in Chicago and 51/100 in Huntsville.
Between Chicago and Huntsville, Huntsville is ahead on climate — 63°F typical weather versus 53°F. Lean Chicago instead when you would rather tolerate 53°F than optimize for Huntsville's comfort score.
Common questions
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