City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Cleveland and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 207 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cleveland and Huntsville are 538 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $111 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $10,246 (16%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 134 in Huntsville, down 207 points (61%).
The move
Huntsville and Cleveland are 538 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $111 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $10,246 (14%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 341 in Cleveland, up 207 points (154%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 9% cheaper than Huntsville
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Cleveland is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 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
16% higher
Huntsville's median income is 16% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Huntsville (about $10,246 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Huntsville is the stronger labor market on paper. Cleveland can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 61% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland 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 16% 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 61% lower than Cleveland (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
Safety is the widest gap: Huntsville scores 51/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland. Rent is $1,171/month in Huntsville and $1,060/month in Cleveland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Huntsville; Cleveland only makes sense when you have walked the Cleveland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,060 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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