Huntsville earns a D−, ranked 618th of 640 in Texas, mostly because of safety and schools. Its crime rate is higher than 80% of U.S. towns, with 262 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Its schools rank behind 79% of the state's. One bright spot: it has 57 miles of trail. 32% of working residents work locally in Huntsville, above both the Texas town median (8.3%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Only 46 of Texas’ 998 towns score lower on cost of living. Huntsville is home to Sam Houston State University.

StrongestAOutdoorsWeakestD⁻Cost of living C⁻Safety C⁻Schools C⁻Jobs & income

What makes Huntsville stand out

Where Huntsville beats most towns.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here23,999

Residents who work13,682

Work

1.8 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 90% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023.

The college

College	Students
Sam Houston State University	16,613

College town

16,613 college students

at Sam Houston State University

Students are part of everyday life here.

A growing town

Huntsville has grown 28% since 2010

38,548 counted in 2010 and 45,941 in 2020; an estimated 49,088 in 2025.

Growth hasn’t slowed: 7.1% since 2020, after 19.2% in the decade before.

38,5482010

45,9412020

49,0882025 est.

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025

How Huntsville grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far Huntsville is from typical.

How grading works

Cost of livingD⁻Open →SafetyC⁻Open →SchoolsC⁻Open →Jobs & incomeC⁻Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 22% of U.S. communities; tornadoes tops the listB⁺Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 9.2% of households have no car; 6.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB⁺Open →HealthHuntsville Memorial Hospital 4.3 miles awayCOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

OutdoorsAOpen →History4 places on the National Register; 22 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life3.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market88 days on market–Open →Who lives here24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Sam Houston House · National Register of Historic Places

Huntsville’s story

190 years in pictures

Sam Houston House is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1836, comes before those of 95% of the Texas towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 892 in 1850, 45,941 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1847 and 3 maps from 1963 on.

4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1836Huntsville is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Huntsville: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Huntsville, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEntergy Texas13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Huntsville water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet9 providers88% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site

SchoolsHuntsville Independent School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereWalker County Early Voting ClerkWalker County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025

ZIP codes77340, 7732077340 62% · 77320 38%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Huntsville.

Huntsville is shaped by its college students, draws workers from Houston and beyond and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.

OutdoorsA

Huntsville keeps 21% of its land conserved

Its A for the outdoors ranks #18 of 642 in Texas.

The biggest place to walk is Huntsville State Park, 2,024 acres with 18.6 miles of trail. The trail network density here is 1.3 miles per square mile. 16 parks and preserves cover 2,134 acres locally.

#42for trails in TX

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Conserved land	21%	1.9%	4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile	1.3 miles per square mile	0.3	0.4

21%

conserved · 5,720 of 27,207 acres

57 mi

of trails · 1.3 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Huntsville State Park	18.6 mi	2,024
2. Kate Barr Ross Park	—	32
3. Eastham Thomason Park	—	13

Full pageHuntsville’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map57 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk18.6 miles of trail · Huntsville State Park Conserved land21% conserved · 5,720 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Huntsville?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsC⁻

Huntsville’s grade for schools is a C−

Two of its 14 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. Huntsville ISD runs its public schools. 6 public schools serve Huntsville, with 3,882 students in all.

21%of TX districts it outscoresC⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Mance Park MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	1,298	C
Huntsville H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,882	D

Full pageHuntsville’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsHUNTSVILLE ISD Every school14 schools · Scott Johnson El Questions“Are Huntsville’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

About one in three working residents works right in Huntsville

23,999 jobs are based in Huntsville, 1.8 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

For workers in Huntsville, the share who do their job from home is 6.3%. Roughly one working resident in three has a job in Huntsville itself. This Texas town had 23,999 jobs in 2023, up 2,927 from 2013. The median household income for Huntsville comes to $48,000.

32%work in town

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	24%	12%	9.6%
Median household income	$48,000	$69,000	$80,000
Work from home	6.3%	9.7%	11%
Average trip to work	23 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Huntsville32%

Houston12%

Conroe5%

Dallas2%

The Woodlands2%

38 mi

median commute distance

23,999

jobs based in Huntsville

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

B+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 67% of U.S. towns

Full pageHuntsville’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here23,999 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work32% work in Huntsville Commute times23 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 38 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Who lives here

Fewer of Huntsville’s residents are under 18 than in the typical Texas or U.S. town

20.7% of residents are enrolled in college, against 6.2% statewide, which pulls the median age down. Only 41.1% of households own their home, against 62.6% across Texas.

Texas has 34% of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more; here it is 24%. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Huntsville at 49,088 residents, up 7.1% since 2020. For Huntsville, the midpoint age is 31.3 years.

31.3median age · TX 35.6

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	13%	26%	22%
Median age	31.3 years	35.9 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	12%	14%	18%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	24%	23%	29%

HuntsvilleTexasUnited States

TXU.S.

Ages · share of residents

27%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma16%

High school30%

Some college22%

Associate’s8%

Bachelor’s16%

Graduate9%

Women and men · all residents

43% women, 57% men

About 133 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.2 points). Across Texas, 50.1% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 70% are men (TX 50%). Median age: women 27.0, men 33.9.

Ages and education in Huntsville
	Huntsville	TX	U.S.
Under 10	7.8%	13.3%	11.6%
10 to 17	5%	11.7%	10.3%
18 to 24	26.6%	9.7%	9.1%
25 to 34	14.9%	14.5%	13.7%
35 to 44	13.3%	14.1%	13.2%
45 to 54	11.2%	12.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	9.7%	11.1%	12.7%
65 to 74	6.9%	8.2%	10.2%
75 and older	4.8%	5.2%	7%
No diploma	15.7%	14%	10.4%
High school	30.1%	24.3%	26%
Some college	22%	20.1%	19.1%
Associate’s	7.9%	7.7%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	15.8%	21.5%	21.6%
Graduate	8.5%	12.3%	14.1%

Full pageHuntsville by the numbersOpen the page

Ages31.3 median age · 12% are 65 or older Schooling24% have a four-year degree Homes41% own their home · Homeowners Income$48K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

SafetyC⁻

Huntsville’s grade for safety is a C−

Huntsville’s violent offense rate is 5.2 per 1,000 residents. In Huntsville, the rate of thefts and burglaries is 13.7 per 1,000 residents.

20%of U.S. towns report more crimeC⁻Safety Grade

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	5.2 per 1,000 residents	1.9	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	13.7 per 1,000 residents	10.7	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Huntsville5.2

Texas3.5

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Huntsville13.7

Texas18.1

U.S.15.5

20th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

20th

percentile among TX towns

262

violent crimes reported in 2025

692

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageHuntsville’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type5.2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Questions“Is Huntsville, TX safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B⁺

Natural hazards: low risk in Huntsville, mostly tornadoes

62 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 10 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 78% of U.S. communities. The national flood insurance program has paid 62 claims in Huntsville since 1991. FEMA puts 31% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to tornadoes, and 28% to inland flooding. Also worth knowing: households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 14 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.

22risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

TornadoesInland floodingCold waves

paid flood claims since 1991

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageHuntsville’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims62 paid flood claims · Since 1991 Past disasters14 federal disasters · Paid out in Huntsville Get ready0 events a year, on average · Ready for tornadoes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Mild winters and hot summers: that is Huntsville’s year

July afternoons average 93.5°: hotter than most of the country, but cooler than 78% of Texas places with climate records; January nights average 40.6°.

Snow is almost unheard of. The town’s typical July afternoon high comes in at 94°F.

94°summer high

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
January low	41°F	37°F	22°F
July high	94°F	95°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter42–62°

Spring57–78°

Summer72–93°

Fall58–80°

Nov 28

typical first frost

Mar 1

typical last frost

+0.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

94°

typical summer high

Full pageHuntsville’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 94°, January lows 41°Rain & snow48″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard of Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+0.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HealthC

Residents of Huntsville are less healthy than 65% of U.S. towns

Against the 4,851 U.S. towns with household incomes like Huntsville’s, it is healthier than 76%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.

Huntsville: 43% of adults sleep under 7 hours. 21% of Huntsville adults report frequent mental distress.

35%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	21%	18%	17%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	71%	74%	79%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	43%	39%	36%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	26%	20%	14%

31 measures vs. Texas

3 better18 too close to call10 worse

What stands out	Huntsville	TX
Fewer adults who have had cancer	4.9%	6.1%
Fewer adults with arthritis	18.6%	21.6%
More adults without reliable transportation	14.9%	10.5%

Huntsville Memorial Hospital

4.3 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

50th

percentile among TX towns

Full pageHuntsville’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby4.3 miles to an ER · Huntsville Memorial Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than TX on 3 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

HousingCost of living grade D⁻

A typical Huntsville home is worth about $261K

Huntsville’s typical rent stands at $1,035 a month. Just over two in five households live in a home they own here. Homes sold in Huntsville spent a median 88 days on the market.

$261KZillow home value

	Huntsville	Texas towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	41%	69%	73%
Median rent	$1,035 a month	$1,208 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Huntsville$261K

Texas$296K

Market temperature

days on market

95%

sale-to-list price

−0.3%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageHuntsville’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsAbout the same as a year ago Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.5 years of income Rents$1,035 a month · Median rent

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Huntsville

20pages on Huntsville

The big questions

SchoolsC⁻Behind 79% of TX districts · 14 schools SafetyC⁻5.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than TX on 3 of 31 CDC measures Cost of livingD⁻$261K typical home · down 0.3% in a year Work & commuteC⁻$48K median household income · 23,999 jobs here Natural hazardsB⁺FEMA risk higher than 22% of U.S. communities · tornadoes

Out and about

OutdoorsA57 mi of trails · 21% conserved land PlacesAttractions12 nearby · Sam Houston National Forest 16 mi LibraryC⁻Huntsville Public Library CollegesSam Houston State University, in town

The story

HistoryBSettled 1836 · 4 on the National Register Famous people22 born in Huntsville Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 177 residents Climate94° summer highs

Day to day

News3 recent stories about Huntsville WeatherHandbookZIP code 77320, 77340, 77341 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville

Sam Houston State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · HuntsvilleIn town$9,228 in-state tuition

College town 21 of every 100 Huntsville residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Texas.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

57 miles of trails in Huntsville

21% of the town is conserved land, across 16 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Huntsville

ConservedTrails

Huntsville State Park18.6 mi of trails · 2,024 acres

Directions

Kate Barr Ross Park32 acres

Directions

Eastham Thomason Park13 acres

Landmarks

4 places in Huntsville on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Sam Houston HouseBuilt 1847 · National Historic Landmark

Austin Hall

Josey Boy Scout Lodge and Keeper's Cabin

Famous people from Huntsville

22 notable people were born in Huntsville.

See all 22 →

Steve ForrestAmerican actor · 1925–2013

Robert Abercrombie LovettPolitician and United States Navy officer · 1895–1986

Cody JohnsonAmerican country singer and songwriter · born 1987

Thomas Henry BallAmerican politician · 1859–1944

Frank GatesBasketball player · 1920–1978

Jacy Reese AnthisAmerican social scientist · born 1992

About Huntsville

City in the United States

Official town website ↗

Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States and is also part of the Houston-Galveston combined statistical area. Its population was 45,941 as of the 2020 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area. Huntsville is in the East Texas Piney Woods on Interstate 45 and home to Sam Houston State University, Texas State Prison, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Huntsville State Park, and HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas. The city served as the residence of Sam Houston, the first and third president of the Republic of Texas, who later represented the state in the U.S. Senate and as Governor of Texas. He is recognized in Huntsville by the…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1836
Area: 36 sq mi
Elevation: 371 ft
ZIP code: 77320, 77340, 77341

Questions about Huntsville

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Huntsville, TX a good place to live?

Huntsville grades D− overall, better than 2% of U.S. towns and #618 of 640 in Texas. It grades C for health, C− for safety and C− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Huntsville, TX expensive?

Yes. That is 5 years of the area's median household income ($52,324 across the Huntsville, TX area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.

What is Huntsville, TX known for?

22 notable people were born here, including Steve Forrest and Robert Abercrombie Lovett.

Post to Huntsville

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Is Huntsville a good place to live?