Moving from Houston to Huntsville, AL: Prices, Taxes and Where to Live

Houston and Huntsville are NASA's two biggest human-spaceflight towns. Johnson Space Center in Houston runs Mission Control, and NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville manages the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis and leads the Human Landing System program. A lot of careers move between the two.

The Numbers Side by Side

Home values in the Huntsville metro are close to those in the Houston metro (about 1% lower), so the move is more about the work and the lifestyle than about saving on a house. You will pay Alabama income tax here, which you do not pay now, but Alabama does not tax Social Security, military retired pay or most government and defined-benefit pensions. Owner-occupied homes here are assessed at 10% of value, so property tax bills tend to be modest.

What $298K Buys Here

As of October 31, 2026 there were 993 homes for sale in Madison and Limestone counties at or under $298K, the median value of owner-occupied homes in Houston. Their median size is about 1,564 square feet, and 257 of them have four or more bedrooms.

See those homes.

Where to Start Looking

Start with homes near NASA Marshall, which sits on Redstone Arsenal, and our homes near Research Park, where most of the space contractors are.

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

1. 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.
2. Pick your commute first. Know your gate, building or parking lot, then search by distance.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-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; Alabama Department of Revenue: exempt income; Madison County property tax facts; City of Huntsville sales tax rates; NASA: Mission Control Center; Axios Huntsville: Huntsville's role in Artemis (Apr 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 (American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-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 are a dated snapshot from Valley MLS data and change daily; listing information is 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.