Huntsville, AL
Census place 0137000 · pop 222,791
"Rocket City" — home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, where the Saturn V moon rocket was developed.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.49 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
483 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2396 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
58.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
12.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$293,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
9.6% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$74,714 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
91.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
24.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
74/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
47.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,319/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+13.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.46% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Huntsville: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Huntsville, AL a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Huntsville scores 56/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is adult obesity. Alabama overall ranks #23 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Huntsville, AL?
- Huntsville reports 483 violent crimes per 100k and 2396 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Huntsville, AL expensive to live in?
- Huntsville has a median home value of $293,600 and typical rent around $1,319/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Huntsville, AL?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (40.7%) — 16/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Huntsville, AL best at?
- Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: "Rocket City" — home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, where the Saturn V moon rocket was developed.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.