City comparison
Huntsville is safer than Denver. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 137 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Huntsville costs less and Denver pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Denver and Huntsville are 1,067 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $660 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $20,004 (21%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 134 in Huntsville, down 137 points (51%).
The move
Huntsville and Denver are 1,067 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $660 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $94,718 in Denver, up $20,004 (27%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 271 in Denver, up 137 points (102%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 36% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,831 in Denver, so Huntsville is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $660/month back in your pocket ($7,920/year). Over five years that's $39,600 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 Denver, 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
27% higher
Denver's median income is 27% higher than Huntsville
Denver
Winner$94,718
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Denver (about $20,004 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, Denver 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
51% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 51% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Denver weather is 15% more comfortable than Huntsville
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Huntsville
58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
Denver averages about 62°F (70°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Huntsville averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 15% 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
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 27% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Denver (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
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 51/100 in Huntsville). That 21-point spread matters more than the $660 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $74,714), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $74,714 in Huntsville.
If safety drives your move, Huntsville is the stronger match (51/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Denver, treat $1,831/month rent and $94,718 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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