City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 195 in Fresno, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 211, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Safety is where Fresno and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 61 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,421 in Fresno 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. Fresno 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
Fresno and Huntsville are 1,857 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $250 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $3,723 (5%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 134 in Huntsville, down 61 points (31%).
The move
Huntsville and Fresno are 1,857 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $250 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $70,991 in Fresno, down $3,723 (5%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 195 in Fresno, up 61 points (46%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 18% cheaper than Fresno
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Huntsville is 18% 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 $3,000, 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 Fresno.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Huntsville's median income is 5% higher than Fresno
Fresno
$70,991
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Huntsville (about $3,723 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
31% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 31% lower than Fresno
Fresno
195 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 195 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Fresno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Fresno weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
Fresno
Winner74°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Fresno averages about 74°F (84°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Fresno sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Fresno 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 Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Huntsville on this page's weather index by 6%. Huntsville may pay more or cost less, but Fresno 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 18% 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 5% 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 31% lower than Fresno (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 40/100 in Fresno). Typical rent is $1,171 in Huntsville and $1,421 in Fresno; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 40/100 in Fresno), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 74°F in Fresno and 63°F in Huntsville.
Between Fresno and Huntsville, Huntsville is ahead on safety — 51/100 safety versus 40/100. Lean Fresno instead when you already know the Fresno block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fresno and Huntsville, plus other cities in CA and AL.
