City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where St Louis and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 218 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $997 in St Louis and $1,171 in Huntsville.
This is a genuine split. St Louis wins on cost of living and Huntsville wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
St Louis and Huntsville are 335 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $174 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $18,554 (33%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 134 in Huntsville, down 218 points (62%).
The move
Huntsville and St Louis are 335 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $997 a month in St Louis, down $174 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $56,160 in St Louis, down $18,554 (25%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 352 in St Louis, up 218 points (163%).
St Louis, MO
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 St Louis and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
St Louis rent is 15% cheaper than Huntsville
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so St Louis 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 $2,088, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Louis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Huntsville.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Huntsville's median income is 33% higher than St Louis
St Louis
$56,160
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Huntsville (about $18,554 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 62% lower than St Louis
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
St Louis and Huntsville are about even on typical weather.
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Huntsville
58°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 80/100
St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs); Huntsville averages about 58°F (69°F highs). St Louis averages around 58°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. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 33% 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 62% lower than St Louis (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
St Louis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 51/100 in Huntsville). That 29-point spread matters more than the $174 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $997 in St Louis and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Pick Huntsville when you want the stronger safety signal (51/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Huntsville when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Louis and Huntsville, plus other cities in MO and AL.
