City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Safety is where Dallas and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 54 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Dallas 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
Dallas and Huntsville are 602 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $301 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $4,196 (6%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 134 in Huntsville, down 54 points (29%).
The move
Huntsville and Dallas are 602 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $301 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $70,518 in Dallas, down $4,196 (6%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 188 in Dallas, up 54 points (40%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 20% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Huntsville is 20% 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 $3,612, 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 Dallas.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Huntsville's median income is 6% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Huntsville (about $4,196 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
29% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 29% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Dallas scores 6% 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 Huntsville if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Huntsville on this page's weather index by 6%. Huntsville may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% 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.
Huntsville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($74,714). Start with Huntsville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than Dallas (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 41/100 in Dallas). Typical rent is $1,171 in Huntsville and $1,472 in Dallas; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 41/100 in Dallas), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Huntsville; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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