City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 49 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Oklahoma City costs less and Huntsville pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and Oklahoma City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Huntsville are 620 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $41 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $6,058 (9%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 134 in Huntsville, down 49 points (27%).
The move
Huntsville and Oklahoma City are 620 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $41 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $6,058 (8%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 49 points (37%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 4% cheaper than Huntsville
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Oklahoma City is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $41, or $492 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Huntsville's median income is 9% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Huntsville (about $6,058 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
27% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 27% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
11% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 11% more comfortable than Huntsville
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Huntsville
58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Huntsville averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 11% 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
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Oklahoma City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (61°F) beat Huntsville on this page's weather index by 11%. Huntsville may pay more or cost less, but Oklahoma City is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 9% 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 27% lower than Oklahoma City (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
Oklahoma City carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 51/100 in Huntsville). That 9-point spread matters more than the $41 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Huntsville vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City.
If safety drives your move, Huntsville is the stronger match (51/100 safety versus 42/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Oklahoma City, treat $1,130/month rent and $68,656 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Huntsville, plus other cities in OK and AL.
