Is Durham cheaper than Huntsville?

No. Huntsville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,310 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 23% lower. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $67,874 in Huntsville, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Durham or Huntsville?

Huntsville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 95 versus 97 in Durham — 2% 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, Durham or Huntsville?

School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Huntsville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Durham, NC vs Huntsville, AL

Durham, NC 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 $1,711 a month in Durham and $1,310 in Huntsville, and median household income lands at $74,710 versus $67,874. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Durham takes job market, while Huntsville takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Huntsville leads by 23% — 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 Durham can feel further apart than Durham and Huntsville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Durham and Huntsville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Durham report Full Huntsville report

Durham, NC

Rent: $1,711/mo
Median income: $74,710
Crime index: 97
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Huntsville, AL

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

Rent

23% cheaper

Huntsville rent is 23% cheaper than Durham

Durham

$1,711/mo

Huntsville

Winner

$1,310/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,310 a month in Huntsville versus $1,711 in Durham, so Huntsville is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $401/month back in your pocket — $4,812/year. Over five years that's $24,060 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 Durham, 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

10% higher

Durham's median income is 10% higher than Huntsville

Durham

Winner

$74,710

Huntsville

$67,874

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,710 in Durham versus $67,874 in Huntsville, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Durham — about $6,836 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

2% lower crime

Huntsville's crime index is 2% lower than Durham

Durham

97 (100 = avg)

Huntsville

Winner

95 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Huntsville's crime index is 95 versus 97 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% 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 Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Durham and Huntsville are about even on school scores.

Durham

A- · 84/100

Huntsville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Durham, A- in Huntsville). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

Neck and neck

Durham and Huntsville are about even on typical weather.

Durham

79°F typical

Huntsville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Durham and Huntsville. Typical temperatures sit around 79°F in Durham and 79°F in Huntsville. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

Fit check

Who should choose Durham

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($74,710). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Durham report →

Fit check

Who should choose Huntsville

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 23% 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.

Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Durham (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

Durham vs Huntsville, called

If cost of living is your priority, Huntsville is the clear choice.

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

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

Common questions

Durham vs Huntsville FAQ

Is Durham cheaper than Huntsville?: No. Huntsville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,310 a month versus $1,711 in Durham — 23% lower. Median household income is $74,710 in Durham compared with $67,874 in Huntsville, so Durham has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Durham or Huntsville?: Huntsville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 95 versus 97 in Durham — 2% 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, Durham or Huntsville?: School composites are close: A- in Durham and A- in Huntsville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Huntsville?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps