City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Huntsville is significant: $140,970 median household versus $74,714. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Huntsville costs less and San Francisco 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 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
San Francisco and Huntsville are 1,995 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $1,305 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $74,714 in Huntsville, down $66,256 (47%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 134 in Huntsville, down 49 points (27%).
The move
Huntsville and San Francisco are 1,995 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,305 a month (111%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $66,256 (89%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 183 in San Francisco, up 49 points (37%).
San Francisco, 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 San Francisco and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
53% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 53% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Huntsville is 53% cheaper. That's roughly $1,305/month back in your pocket ($15,660/year). Over five years that's $78,300 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Huntsville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
89% higher
San Francisco's median income is 89% higher than Huntsville
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Huntsville
$74,714
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $74,714 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 89% higher in San Francisco (about $66,256 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, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Huntsville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
27% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 27% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 183 in San Francisco (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. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 6% more comfortable than Huntsville
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Huntsville
63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Huntsville averages around 63°F. San Francisco 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 89% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 53% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than San Francisco (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
On rent alone, Huntsville undercuts San Francisco by $1,305/month ($1,171 vs $2,476). I would not pick San Francisco on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Huntsville rent at $1,171/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 51/100 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is the default on housing cost at $1,171/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco; San Francisco stays in play when $140,970 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,305 lease gap.
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 San Francisco and Huntsville, plus other cities in CA and AL.
