City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Huntsville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,171 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Huntsville. St Paul averages 50°F while Huntsville averages 63°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,171.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit St Paul in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
St Paul and Huntsville are 785 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, down $110 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $1,320 (2%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 134 in Huntsville, down 32 points (19%).
The move
Huntsville and St Paul are 785 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $110 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $73,394 in St Paul, down $1,320 (2%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 166 in St Paul, up 32 points (24%).
St Paul, 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 St Paul and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Huntsville rent is 9% cheaper than St Paul
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Huntsville
Winner$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,171 a month in Huntsville versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Huntsville is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $110, or $1,320 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
2% higher
Huntsville's median income is 2% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Huntsville (about $1,320 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
19% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 19% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% 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 Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
62% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 62% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 62% 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 St Paul if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Paul
On these five categories Huntsville takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose St Paul because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose St Paul only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Huntsville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than St Paul (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 weather alone, Huntsville is the warmer market (63°F) and St Paul the cooler (50°F). Typical leases run $1,171 and $1,281; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $110 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,171 in Huntsville and $1,281 in St Paul.
Between St Paul and Huntsville, Huntsville is ahead on climate — 63°F typical weather versus 50°F. Lean St Paul instead when you would rather tolerate 50°F than optimize for Huntsville's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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