Population 209,737 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Huntsville
Household size in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Huntsville is a place of small households, averaging 2.28 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.37 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.1 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Huntsville are younger than 38.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 37.8, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Huntsville (11.1%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Alabama overall (12.2%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.4 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Huntsville
Renters in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.5% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.1% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.9% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Huntsville than nationally: 41.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 44.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.1 points, mirroring the country. Only 15 of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Huntsville is close to the national rate: 10.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Alabama overall (13.5%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.3 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Huntsville was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $737 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $903 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $949 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,269 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$532 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Huntsville pays $1,269 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Alabama overall ($1,091). Rents are up $532 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Huntsville
Bachelor's degrees in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.1% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.4% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.6% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Huntsville (43.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.2 points, mirroring the country. Of the 186 Alabama cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.5% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.2% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.2% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Huntsville is a bit above the national rate: 91.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Huntsville
| Period | Huntsville | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Huntsville than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Huntsville compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 2.28 | 38.7 | 11.1% | 41.9% | 10.5% | 1983 | $1,269 | 43.6% | 91.2% | 4.5% |
| Redstone Arsenal | 3.96 | 39.1 | 14.8% | 98.1% | 3.1% | 1996 | $1,734 | 48.9% | 96.6% | 3.4% |
| Brownsboro | 2.38 | 48.0 | 6.3% | 13.4% | 5.6% | 2000 | $1,703 | 55.1% | 98.0% | 2.9% |
| Willowbrook | 2.45 | 40.0 | 12.3% | 40.6% | 5.4% | 2004 | $1,338 | 52.0% | 100.0% | 5.7% |
| Owens Cross Roads | 2.74 | 39.7 | 7.4% | 9.3% | 2.7% | 2007 | $1,735 | 60.5% | 96.4% | 2.2% |
| Madison | 2.72 | 38.6 | 8.1% | 27.0% | 5.3% | 2005 | $1,757 | 61.2% | 96.3% | 1.9% |
| Moores Mill | 2.64 | 42.6 | 10.0% | 21.9% | 5.1% | 1996 | $1,349 | 31.6% | 92.2% | 4.2% |
| Meridianville | 2.81 | 39.1 | 6.7% | 8.2% | 6.1% | 2007 | $1,230 | 45.5% | 92.8% | 3.2% |
| Gurley | 2.54 | 49.1 | 6.3% | 8.6% | 11.1% | 1994 | $1,476 | 43.2% | 90.5% | 1.7% |
| Harvest | 2.79 | 38.1 | 9.6% | 13.3% | 4.7% | 2002 | $1,573 | 36.8% | 91.5% | 2.9% |
| Maysville | 2.53 | 55.4 | 6.8% | 4.8% | 9.4% | 1989 | $1,651 | 40.8% | 91.9% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Walnut Creek, CA · Tuscaloosa, AL · Wake Forest, NC · Upland, CA · Victoria, TX · Tyler, TX · Van Nuys, CA · Valparaiso, IN · Union City, CA · Visalia, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Huntsville. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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