City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 134 in Huntsville, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 127, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where El Paso and Huntsville split most clearly. El Paso scores 47 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,171 in Huntsville.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Huntsville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Huntsville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Huntsville are 1,166 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $98 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $14,969 (25%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 134 in Huntsville, up 47 points (54%).
The move
Huntsville and El Paso are 1,166 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $98 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $59,745 in El Paso, down $14,969 (20%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 87 in El Paso, down 47 points (35%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
El Paso rent is 8% cheaper than Huntsville
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so El Paso is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $98, or $1,176 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 El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Huntsville's median income is 25% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Huntsville (about $14,969 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 35% lower than Huntsville
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
134 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 134 in Huntsville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Huntsville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. El Paso 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
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Huntsville on this page's weather index by 6%. Huntsville may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Huntsville (87 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Huntsville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($74,714). Start with Huntsville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but El Paso leads on safety (64/100 vs 51/100 in Huntsville). Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,171 in Huntsville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 66°F in El Paso and 63°F in Huntsville.
El Paso is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 51/100); Huntsville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,171/month rent plus $74,714 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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