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Living in
Huntsville.
About
Life in Huntsville
Living in Huntsville means accepting that the prison system is the backbone of the economy—the TDCJ employs roughly twice as many people as Sam Houston State University, the second-largest employer, and nearly everyone here has some connection to the system, whether direct or through local businesses that depend on it. That said, if you work in corrections, education, healthcare, or related fields, job stability is strong and unemployment sits at 4.3%. Housing is affordable compared to Houston, with median home values around $237,000 and rental rates averaging $1,035 monthly, though median household income of $47,529 is below the Texas average.
Huntsville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.9%
Foreign-Born
9.0%
Broadband Internet
85.6%
of households
Population Growth
+7.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Huntsville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Huntsville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (38.1%), and 16.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
12.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.2%
of households
Married Couples
27.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Huntsville
In Huntsville, rent runs 26% below the TX average, and home values are 17% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,064
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $261,025 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Huntsville
Unemployment in Huntsville is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Huntsville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.4 min avg
How Huntsville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Huntsville, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 49 mi
Easterwood Field (CLL)
Regional airport · few flights69k passengers boarded in 2025
- 52 mi
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Major hub23.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 57% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Huntsville runs 57% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
517.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,387.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Huntsville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Walker County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Walker County, which includes Huntsville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flash Flood | $790,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 3 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 7 | Winter Storm | $3.3M |
| 2020 | 6 | Hail | $279,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Walker County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Montgomery County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 28 miles from Huntsville) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
142
per year
Moderate Days
213
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Montgomery County, TX (28 mi away)
Climate91°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Huntsville has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
96
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
17
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
93
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 39°F | 4.57" |
| Feb | 62°F | 43°F | 3.38" |
| Mar | 69°F | 49°F | 3.85" |
| Apr | 77°F | 56°F | 3.89" |
| May | 83°F | 64°F | 4.47" |
| Jun | 89°F | 70°F | 5.45" |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 3.06" |
| Aug | 93°F | 72°F | 4.14" |
| Sep | 87°F | 67°F | 4.47" |
| Oct | 79°F | 58°F | 4.63" |
| Nov | 68°F | 48°F | 4.68" |
| Dec | 60°F | 41°F | 4.73" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Huntsville
Huntsville has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
16.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Huntsville Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Huntsville
Huntsville's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Huntsville
Public · 4-year · 17,743 students · in-state tuition $9,228 · 63% graduate · median earnings $56,877 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Thicket National Preserve, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Huntsville
Huntsville has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Big Thicket National Preserve (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Thicket National Preserve
National Preserve
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Huntsville
Huntsville Public Library
1219 13th St, Huntsville
Cities Near Huntsville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Huntsville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Huntsville FAQ
Is Huntsville, Texas affordable?⌄
Huntsville's median rent is $1,035/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,529/year. Median home value is $236,600.
Is Huntsville, Texas safe?⌄
Huntsville's violent crime rate was 517 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1387 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Huntsville, Texas?⌄
Huntsville has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Huntsville, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Huntsville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,035/month and median household income is $47,529/year. The median home value is $236,600. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Huntsville, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Huntsville is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from