Moving to Huntsville, AL

Thinking about moving to Huntsville?

You’ll be in good company. Between 2010 and 2016, more than 12,974 people have moved to Huntsville, an increase of 7.2%. New residents are attracted to Huntsville’s passion for craft beer, majestic mountain views, and love of both the arts and sciences.

Living

Huntsville is home to 193,079 Huntsvillians. With an area of 209.1 square miles, Huntsville has a population density of 923 persons per square mile, which makes it less dense than many other cities of comparable size.

The Huntsville, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a population of 449,720 people, of which Huntsville proper’s population makes up 43%.

Housing

One of Huntsville’s greatest strengths is its relatively affordable housing market. The median home value in Huntsville is $138,100, -31% below the US median value, according to Zillow. The median price per square foot in Huntsville is $84. Over the past 5 years, home values in Huntsville have increased by 1%.

Renters in Huntsville will also have an easy time finding affordable housing. The median rent in Huntsville is $995 per month, which is 30% lower than the US median. Over the past year, rental rates in Huntsville have increased by 0.1%.

Economy

Huntsville’s economy has been a bit sluggish over the past few years. The Huntsville metro area’s GDP grew by 14% between 2011 and 2016, from $21.8 billion in 2011 to $24.8 billion in 2016, a total increase of $3. billion. The metro area has a per capita GDP of $55,248. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Huntsville is $55,947, 5% lower than the national median. Huntsville’s unemployment rate is 4.6%.

Weather

The average annual temperature in Huntsville is 51.1 degrees. The average annual low temperature is 51.1 degrees, while the average annual high is 72.8 degrees. Huntsville’s hottest month is July, during which the average high temperature is 91 degrees, while the coldest month is January, when the average low drops down to 32 degrees.

Huntsville sees an average rainfall of 54.33 inches per year. December is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 5.79 inches, while October is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of 3.58 inches.

Crime

Huntsville has an annual violent crime rate of 5.34 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national median of 3.8 in 1,000. Its property crime rate is 35.68 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, which is higher than the national average of 26.

Traffic & Transportation

Traffic is not as big of a problem in Huntsville as it is in many other US cities. According to a survey conducted by INRIX, the average commuter in Huntsville spends hours in traffic each year, with about % of their time commuting in a traffic jam, a lower portion than average among US cities.

Walk Score gives Huntsville a walk score of 23.

Cost of Living

Huntsville is a relatively affordable place to live with a low cost of living. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis‘s Regional Price Parity survey, which takes into account cost of living metrics including the price of goods and services and housing, Huntsville has a regional price parity of 98.1, -10.4% below the average for US metro areas.

Demographics

The median age in Huntsville is 37 years. 48.8% of the population in the Huntsville metro area is male, while 51.2% is female. 6.8% of the metro population is foreign born.

In terms of racial demographics, Huntsville is 56.8% Non-Hispanic White, 6.3% Hispanic, 6.3% Black, and 2.8% Asian.

89.5% of those over the age of 25 in Huntsville have a high school diploma, a higher rate than nationally. 42.6% of those over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, which is higher than the national rate. 16.9% of residents have an advanced or professional degree.

In the 2016 presidential election, 55% of Huntsville voters voted for the Republican nominee, while 38% voted for the Democratic nominee.