Huntsville vs Colorado Springs: A Tale of Two Cities

The relocation of the U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama, has brought renewed attention to the economic and social landscapes of both cities. Recent national rankings reveal significant differences in housing affordability, crime rates, and job growth, offering a detailed picture of the factors influencing the move for approximately 1,700 employees.

Economic Incentives for Relocation

One of the most compelling arguments for the move is the substantial difference in the cost of living. According to data from Realtor.com and the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors, the median home price in Colorado Springs was $475,000 in June, while Huntsville's was considerably lower at $345,000 in July.

This gap in housing costs is a critical factor for the personnel who will be transferring. John Boyd Jr., a principal at the site selection firm Boyd Company, highlighted this advantage.

"Given the significant cost of living advantages and the significant home affordability advantages in Huntsville versus Colorado Springs, I think this is a very desirable move," Boyd stated.

The Milken Institute's 2025 Best Performing Cities report further emphasizes this disparity. In its housing affordability metric, Huntsville ranked 4th nationally among 150 large metropolitan areas, whereas Colorado Springs placed 126th.

Rental Market Differences

The affordability gap extends to the rental market. Data from the Waller, Weeks and Johnson rental index shows the average monthly rent in Huntsville is $1,464, requiring an annual salary of about $58,584. In contrast, Colorado Springs has an average rent of $1,925 per month, with a suggested affordability salary of $77,000.

Researchers at the Milken Institute noted Huntsville's success in managing its growth, stating, "Despite its growth, Huntsville has done an outstanding job supplying affordable housing." Conversely, they pointed out a broader issue in Colorado, where "the state of Colorado suffers from deteriorating affordable housing, and Colorado Springs is no exception to this problem."

Job Growth and Economic Diversity

Both cities feature economies heavily reliant on the defense and aerospace industries. Huntsville, often called "the Pentagon of the South," is home to Redstone Arsenal, which employs over 50,000 people. The city also hosts NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and key FBI and Missile Defense Agency operations.

Colorado Springs is the location for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Fort Carson, Peterson Air Force Base, and Schriever U.S. Space Force Base. The military accounts for approximately one-fifth of the city's workforce.

However, Huntsville has demonstrated a more diversified economic expansion in recent years. The advanced manufacturing sector in the Huntsville metro area saw employment grow by 37.9% from 2018 to 2023, far outpacing the national average of 2%. This growth is fueled by major employers like Mazda Toyota Manufacturing and Polaris.

Performance in National Rankings

According to the Milken Institute, Huntsville's economic performance is strong. The city ranked 7th nationally for long-term job growth (2018-23) and 5th for short-term job growth (2022-23). It also placed 9th for short-term wage growth.

Colorado Springs also performed well, ranking 24th in short-term job growth and 15th in short-term wage growth. The city showed exceptional strength in other areas, ranking 2nd for households with broadband access and 5th for community resilience, which measures the ability to recover from economic or natural disasters. Huntsville ranked 100th in the same resilience metric.

Quality of Life and Community Factors

Beyond economics, quality of life indicators present a mixed but informative picture. A significant factor noted in recent rankings is crime. U.S. News & World Report placed Colorado Springs in the top 15% of 850 cities for high crime rates, with both violent and property crime being higher than in cities of a similar size.

In contrast, Huntsville's crime rate is reported to be lower than the national average and has been decreasing even as its population has grown. This distinction in public safety could be another incentive for relocating personnel.

The move also presents opportunities for post-enlistment employment. "Given the aerospace and the defense industry is almost double the size in Huntsville versus Colorado Springs, think about the post enlistment employment opportunities for the roster of major employers in Huntsville," said John Boyd Jr. "I think this will be viewed as a very attractive relocation opportunity for many."

Martin Traylor, Deputy Garrison Commander at Redstone Arsenal, spoke about the strategic benefits of the move. "The synergy is already there between those commands," he said. "It just makes it a lot easier because now, in addition to being able to communicate over their secure communications networks, they can literally go down the street and see people face to face. It’s hard to put a price on a relationship factor of leadership like that."

As the transition of U.S. Space Command proceeds, the distinct advantages and challenges of each city will continue to shape the personal and professional lives of the thousands of individuals involved in this significant military relocation.