City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Colorado Springs and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 66 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs and Huntsville are 1,046 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $477 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $10,104 (12%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 134 in Huntsville, down 66 points (33%).
The move
Huntsville and Colorado Springs are 1,046 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $477 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $10,104 (14%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 66 points (49%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 29% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Huntsville is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $477/month back in your pocket ($5,724/year). Over five years that's $28,620 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Colorado Springs, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Huntsville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 14% higher than Huntsville
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Colorado Springs (about $10,104 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, Colorado Springs is the stronger labor market on paper. Huntsville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
33% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 33% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
31% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 31% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 31% 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 Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs 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 29% 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 Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 31%. Colorado Springs 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 33% lower than Colorado Springs (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Huntsville at $1,171/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($477 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 against $74,714 in Huntsville, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Colorado Springs and 63°F in Huntsville.
Pick Huntsville when shaving $477 off rent at $1,171/month is the priority. Otherwise, Colorado Springs's case rests on $1,648/month rent with $84,818 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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