City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 361 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis 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. Memphis 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 Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Huntsville are 198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $22,978 (44%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 134 in Huntsville, down 361 points (73%).
The move
Huntsville and Memphis are 198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $51,736 in Memphis, down $22,978 (31%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 495 in Memphis, up 361 points (269%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 1% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Huntsville is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 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 Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Huntsville's median income is 44% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Huntsville (about $22,978 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 73% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 21% more comfortable than Huntsville
Memphis
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Huntsville
58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
Memphis averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). Memphis averages around 64°F. Huntsville averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Memphis scores 21% 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 Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (64°F) beat Huntsville on this page's weather index by 21%. Huntsville may pay more or cost less, but Memphis 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 1% 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 44% 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 73% lower than Memphis (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
Safety is the widest gap: Huntsville scores 51/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis. Typical rent is the same $1,171/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $51,736 in Memphis — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Memphis and 58°F in Huntsville.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Huntsville; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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