Home › AL › Huntsville, AL Cost of living in Huntsville, AL Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 93.8 (US = 100)
How Huntsville compares Where Huntsville falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 94 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 94 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $317k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $317k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $155 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $155 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.39% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.39% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 450 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 450 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 33° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 33° Map of Huntsville Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.8 metro-area #82 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.6 metro-area #52 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.34 metro-area #81 of 200 Median household income $78,521 metro-area #67 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $44,516 metro-area #49 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.8 years metro-area #103 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 42.4% metro-area #22 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.3% metro-area #156 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 70.5% metro-area #39 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.21% metro-area #35 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +11.0% metro-area #21 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $316,645 metro-area #87 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.0× metro-area #54 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.7% metro-area #119 of 200 Price per square foot $155 metro-area #68 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,049 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,385 metro-area #48 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,010 Median days on market 21 metro-area #124 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% state #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.25% state #174 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.00% Capital gains tax 5.00% state #115 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.39% metro-area #6 of 200 Median property tax paid $934 metro-area #10 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.4 years metro-area #104 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 state #10 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 8.3% metro-area #99 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 74 metro-area #107 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,000 state #5 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $90 state #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.70% of value (~$196/yr) state #134 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 7 Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #57 of 200 Commute by driving alone 78.4% metro-area #152 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 30.3% metro-area #88 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh state #116 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $157 state #116 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $117 state #121 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 state #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 91.5 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #116 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 44 metro-area #76 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,600 metro-area #70 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 59 metro-area #138 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 3 metro-area #158 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200 Avg winter low 33°F metro-area #83 of 200 Annual precipitation 56.6" metro-area #186 of 200 Annual snowfall 1.4" metro-area #63 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 450 state #134 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,500 state #151 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 23 metro-area #155 of 200 Parks 18 Hiking areas 7 Golf courses 13 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Huntsville Major public and private employers in the Huntsville, AL area.
Employer Sector Jobs U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal Government Careers → Huntsville Hospital Healthcare Careers → Boeing Aerospace/Defense Careers → Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA Manufacturing Search → NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Government Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Huntsville Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $168,220 Financial Managers $142,220 Pharmacists $133,540 Lawyers $132,700 General & Operations Managers $132,290 Marketing Managers $131,130 Human Resources Managers $123,770 Software Developers $111,710 Data Scientists $106,270 Mechanical Engineers $102,500 Construction Managers $101,210 Civil Engineers $97,700 Physical Therapists $97,260 Physician Assistants $81,480 Accountants & Auditors $74,290 Web Developers $71,410 Elementary School Teachers $63,560 Registered Nurses $63,480 Real Estate Sales Agents $58,820 Dental Hygienists $58,410 Electricians $58,280 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $54,720 Graphic Designers $52,830 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,330 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $51,150 Carpenters $47,840 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $45,050 Medical Assistants $35,410
Cities in the Huntsville area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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