Huntsville vs Modesto: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Huntsville, AL and Modesto, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricHuntsville, ALModesto, CA
Population215,025218,308
Median household income$67,874$73,375
Median home value$236,300$381,800
Median rent (/mo)$1,020$1,497

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Huntsville, AL and Modesto, CA comes down to what you value most. Huntsville has the lower median home value, and Huntsville has the lower median rent.

Modesto has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Modesto?
By median home value, Huntsville is the cheaper of the two ($236,300 vs $381,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Huntsville or Modesto?
Median household income is $67,874 in Huntsville versus $73,375 in Modesto, per the US Census Bureau.

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