Huntsville prioritizes smart growth as population continues to increase

Published on August 8, 2025

Numbers crunched by the City of Huntsville’s Planning Department, in its annual estimates, continue to illustrate the city is maintaining its pace for growth.

As of July 1, Huntsville’s estimated population reached 249,102 – a 15.9% increase since the 2020 Census. In raw numbers, that’s more than 34,000 new residents over the past five years, or about 18 new people choosing Huntsville as home each day.

This sustained growth places Huntsville among the top 20 fastest-growing cities in the nation (out of 346 U.S. cities with populations over 100,000) and ranks it as one of the 100 largest cities in the country.

The estimates are based on a variety of data, including residential construction (such as certificates of occupancy/demolitions/moves) as well as utility signups and historical demographic trends.

While the City considers Census data valuable, the Planning Department’s annual estimates provide a real-time snapshot of current conditions to guide City leaders.

“We are proud to welcome new people to Huntsville every day,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “But more important than the growth is the execution of our strategy to manage that growth and continue to provide a high quality of life both for our residents who have been here for decades and those who have recently moved here. This strategy includes ample housing inventory across multiple price points, along with key infrastructure investments such as roads and excellent schools.”

Housing trends underscore this intentional approach of smart growth. From January to June 2025, Huntsville added a net total of 1,945 housing units, bringing the city’s total to 120,904. While the rate has moderated slightly from previous record-breaking years, Huntsville is still on track to add more than 4,000 new housing units in 2025. This would mark the fourth consecutive year of historically high housing development, far surpassing pre-2020 averages.

Since 2020, more than 20,500 new housing units have been added, offering residents more choices in how and where they live. These options support a range of lifestyles and income levels, making the city more accessible and attractive to young professionals, families, and retirees alike.

Huntsville’s diverse offering of housing inventory provides options for a growing population from urban and suburban communities. The continued housing growth provides a stable tax base for the City. This results in the City’s ability to make investments to foster vibrant, walkable communities and strengthens the City’s ability to support population growth while preserving quality of life and affordability.