Moving from Boston to Huntsville, AL: Prices, Taxes and Where to Live
Raytheon links the Boston area and Huntsville. It builds the LTAMDS radar at its Andover, Massachusetts campus and runs a Standard Missile integration facility in the Huntsville area, which it expanded with $115 million in 2026.
The Numbers Side by Side
| Boston | Huntsville metro | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value, owner-occupied homes (2024) | $681,100 | $331,800 |
| Top state income tax rate (2026) | 9% | 5% (Alabama) |
| Sales tax in the main city | 6.25% | 9% in the City of Huntsville |
| Property tax | About 0.69% of home value a year in Suffolk County | About 0.39% of home value a year in Madison County |
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the Huntsville metro is about 51% lower than in the Boston area. Alabama does not tax Social Security, military retired pay or most government and defined-benefit pensions, which matters if you are bringing a pension with you. Owner-occupied homes here are assessed at 10% of value, so property tax bills tend to be modest.
What $681K Buys Here
As of October 31, 2026 there were 3,088 homes for sale in Madison and Limestone counties at or under $681K, the median value of owner-occupied homes in the Boston area. Their median size is about 2,135 square feet, and 1,743 of them have four or more bedrooms.
Where to Start Looking
Start with homes near Raytheon and our homes near Research Park.
Madison is its own city with its own school system. South Huntsville has the widest range of homes and quick access to the Arsenal. Harvest, Athens and the Limestone County side give you more house and land for the money. Our ZIP code comparison, commute guide and honest look at living here help narrow it down.
Buying From Out of State
- Get pre-approved with a lender who knows Alabama. Property taxes are paid differently here than in many states, and the homestead exemption has to be filed.
- Pick your commute first. Know your gate, building or parking lot, then search by distance.
- Tour by video, then visit with a short list. We can walk homes on live video and line up a full day of showings when you fly in.
- Check school zones by address. Huntsville City, Madison City, Madison County and Limestone County are separate school systems, and lines do not follow ZIP codes.
- Plan for storms. North Alabama has a spring and a fall severe weather season. Read our storm safety guide and ask about safe rooms.
Coming from somewhere else? See all our relocation guides, and when you get here, the outdoors and things to do.
Moving to Huntsville for work?
We are a local, family-owned brokerage that has helped people relocate here for over 10 years. Tell us where you will work, your timeline and what you need, and we will send homes that fit your commute, set up video tours if you cannot visit yet, and help you line everything up before you arrive.
Talk to us about your moveHuntsville relocation guideSources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, table B25077 (median value of owner-occupied homes); Tax Foundation, 2026 state income tax rates; Tax Foundation, state and local sales tax rates, midyear 2026; Tax Foundation, property taxes by county (2024 data); Alabama Department of Revenue: exempt income; Madison County property tax facts; City of Huntsville sales tax rates; Raytheon: LTAMDS facility expansion (Oct 2025); RTX: Alabama missile integration facility expansion (Mar 2026).
Home values are metro-wide medians of owner-occupied homes as reported by owners, from the same U.S. Census Bureau source for both markets (2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, table B25077). They are not sale prices and will not match any single neighborhood. Tax information is general and is not tax advice; talk to a tax professional about your situation.
Distances are straight-line miles, not drive times. Your commute depends on the route, your gate or parking lot and the time of day, so drive it at rush hour before you buy. Market numbers come from ValleyMLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Employer information comes from public sources listed on this page as of October 23, 2026. Wyze Realty is not affiliated with any employer named here.