Is Austin cheaper than Huntsville?

No. Huntsville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,310 a month versus $1,852 in Austin — 29% lower. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $67,874 in Huntsville, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Austin or Huntsville?

Huntsville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 95 versus 109 in Austin — 13% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Austin or Huntsville?

Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Huntsville — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

New search

City comparison

Austin, TX vs Huntsville, AL

Austin, TX versus Huntsville, AL is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,852 a month in Austin and $1,310 in Huntsville, and median household income lands at $86,556 versus $67,874. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Austin takes job market and schools, while Huntsville takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Huntsville leads by 63% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Austin can feel further apart than Austin and Huntsville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Austin and Huntsville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Austin report Full Huntsville report

Austin, TX

Rent: $1,852/mo
Median income: $86,556
Crime index: 109
Schools: A
Weather: 91°F

Huntsville, AL

Rent: $1,310/mo
Median income: $67,874
Crime index: 95
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

29% cheaper

Huntsville rent is 29% cheaper than Austin

Austin

$1,852/mo

Huntsville

Winner

$1,310/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,310 a month in Huntsville versus $1,852 in Austin, so Huntsville is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $542/month back in your pocket — $6,504/year. Over five years that's $32,520 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 Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Huntsville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

28% higher

Austin's median income is 28% higher than Huntsville

Austin

Winner

$86,556

Huntsville

$67,874

What this means for your life

Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $67,874 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Austin — about $18,682 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, Austin 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

13% lower crime

Huntsville's crime index is 13% lower than Austin

Austin

109 (100 = avg)

Huntsville

Winner

95 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Huntsville's crime index is 95 versus 109 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Huntsville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Huntsville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than Huntsville

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

Huntsville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Huntsville — school scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Huntsville is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

63% more comfortable

Huntsville weather is 63% more comfortable than Austin

Austin

91°F typical

Huntsville

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Huntsville scores 63% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Austin and 79°F in Huntsville. Austin reads as hot, long summers; Huntsville reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Huntsville is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Austin can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($86,556). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Parents — or anyone planning kids in the next few years — should weight Austin first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). Huntsville only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Austin report →

Fit check

Who should choose Huntsville

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 29% cheaper here at about $1,310 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 (79°F) beat Austin on this page's weather index by 63%. Austin 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 13% lower than Austin (95 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.

Open the Huntsville report →

Bottom line

Austin vs Huntsville, called

If weather is your priority, Huntsville is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Austin pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Huntsville offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Austin vs Huntsville FAQ

Is Austin cheaper than Huntsville?: No. Huntsville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,310 a month versus $1,852 in Austin — 29% lower. Median household income is $86,556 in Austin compared with $67,874 in Huntsville, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Austin or Huntsville?: Huntsville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 95 versus 109 in Austin — 13% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Austin or Huntsville?: Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Huntsville — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

Ready to move to Huntsville?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps