Huntsville’s uncongested roadways mean spending less time getting home and more time enjoying life. Compared to the average commute in the United States, Huntsville residents save 35 hours or 4.5 work days a year. From Whole Foods to Apple, Uber to Google Fiber, whatever you can find in a bigger city you can almost certainly find in Huntsville. The key to living in Huntsville is the friendships made over a craft beer, a night on the town, or an entrepreneurial brainstorming session with the rocket scientist next door. And for those occasional urges to fight the traffic, Nashville and Atlanta are only a short drive away.

Huntsville’s cost of living is below the U.S. average and is one of the more attractive features for individuals moving from high-cost markets including Washington, D.C. and California. Home prices are 15 percent lower than the U.S. average and overall costs are about 7 to 10 percent lower. Being a competitive tech community with a lower cost of living creates a competitive advantage for companies in a global marketplace.

Big city attractions with a small town feel – many communities say it, but Huntsville lives it. From Broadway shows to concert tours, Huntsville is on the primary circuit. Some of the country’s best outdoor getaways are only minutes from the city center. With the Nation’s largest private center for the arts at Lowe Mill, artists, musicians and creative thinkers collaborate to bring cutting-edge entertainment to life. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Appalachian Mountains and the Tennessee River provide room to roam with boating, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. These enthusiasts can take advantage of the 30+ miles of hiking and biking trails, 5,000 acres of nature preserves, 60 parks and greenways, or Monte Sano State Park. Huntsville is home to the National Speleological Society (that’s caving, for short), and quick day trips in the region include Olympic-class white water rafting and rock climbing. If sports are your thing, Huntsville has plenty to check out! Attend a Huntsville Havoc game or a Huntsville City FC match! You can always check out America’s favorite pastime by watching the Rocket City Trash Pandas minor league baseball team in Madison. Nashville’s Music Row, NFL Titans, and NHL Predators are only 90 minutes away, making Huntsville one happening place to be.

Huntsville has been recognized as a Platinum Level Sustainable Community by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which is the highest honor a community can receive. This means that the City has met the following requirements:

• Establish a Sustainability Team
• Develop (or have in place) a Community Outreach Program related to Sustainability
• Develop (or have in place) a Greenspace Plan
• Address Sustainability in a Community Land Use Plan
• Complete a Natural Resources Inventory
• Provide recycling options for residents

Huntsville has a variety of living options for residents at all stages of life. From historic neighborhoods and downtown
living to urban lofts and mini-farms, housing is both affordable and available. New home and apartment construction
permits have risen an average of six percent over the past five years. Area home prices are far below the national average with average home costs 15 percent lower in the Huntsville market than the U.S. as a whole.

Huntsville has a thriving movement of residential redevelopment and infill as it continues to grow and revitalize older, underserved neighborhoods. Companies like Reinvent Huntsville are the model for re-establishing neighborhoods to provide a mix of new market rate properties, renovated bungalows, and affordable housing. New urban centers like Providence and Twickenham Square offer walkable lifestyles where shopping, restaurants, greenways, and workplaces are within footsteps of your front door.