City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,361 in Houston.
Safety is where Houston and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 136 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston 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. Houston 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 crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Huntsville are 617 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $190 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $9,901 (15%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 134 in Huntsville, down 136 points (50%).
The move
Huntsville and Houston are 617 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,361 a month in Houston, up $190 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $64,813 in Houston, down $9,901 (13%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 270 in Houston, up 136 points (101%).
Houston, 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 Houston and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 14% cheaper than Houston
Houston
$1,361/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,361 in Houston, so Huntsville is 14% 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 $2,280, 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 Houston.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Huntsville's median income is 15% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Huntsville (about $9,901 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
50% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 50% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Houston weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Houston 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 Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Huntsville on this page's weather index by 6%. Huntsville may pay more or cost less, but Houston 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 14% 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 15% 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 50% lower than Houston (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Huntsville: Huntsville scores 51/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,171 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 21 safety points for housing savings.
With only $190 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $64,813 in Houston.
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 Houston, treat $1,361/month rent and $64,813 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Huntsville?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Huntsville when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Huntsville, plus other cities in TX and AL.
