City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 169 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Huntsville are 791 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $200 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $6,132 (8%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 134 in Huntsville, down 169 points (56%).
The move
Huntsville and Minneapolis are 791 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $200 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $6,132 (8%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 303 in Minneapolis, up 169 points (126%).
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minneapolis and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 15% cheaper than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Huntsville is 15% 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 $2,400, 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 Minneapolis.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 8% higher than Huntsville
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Minneapolis (about $6,132 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
56% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 56% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
38% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 38% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Huntsville
Winner58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
Minneapolis averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville scores 38% 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 Minneapolis 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 and professional growth
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
Pick Huntsville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 38%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Huntsville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than Minneapolis (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 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,171 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 25 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,171 in Huntsville and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Huntsville clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Minneapolis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Minneapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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