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Huntsville is ASmartPlace to live because of our high quality of life, affordability, and wide range of housing options. We are ranked the #1 Best Place to Live by US News & World Report! With an average 20-minute commute within the City or a minute per mile across our 16-county labor shed, you are sure to find your spot here. Check out Valley MLS to see all listed residential options, and dive into our housing stats with the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors. For even more information about what’s next, see the 2021 Huntsville Development Review. And be sure to contact us if you have more questions!

Our Communities

Quality of Life

Daily Living

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.

Cost of Living

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.

Recreation

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.

Sustainability

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

Housing

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.

Diversity of Housing

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.

Huntsville is a progressive city, recognized as part of the “creative class” of makers and artists. Nearly half our population is not originally from Alabama, creating an atmosphere that welcomes newcomers and treats them like family. Over the past ten years, Huntsville has focused on making the community attractive for young professionals, families, and seniors with investments in amenities and recreation facilities that appeal to all ages. But don’t take our word for it — read what the experts are saying!

Go Rocket City

We have recently relaunched our Go Rocket City! video series which includes a glimpse into our rapidly-growing community. Learn what the Rocket City truly has to offer in terms of quality of life, work life, and everything in between. Our community is often known for our work in STEM, but did you know we have a large Arts community as well? This series covers it all, and we are so excited to continue sharing new videos over the next several months. Stay tuned as we continue to unveil new layers and share the goodness that is Huntsville, Alabama.

Explore and Enjoy