Huntsville, Alabama was once known as a sleepy farming town. During the Space Race in the 1960s, it gained national recognition.

Since then, it has become one of the fastest growing metro areas in the state of Alabama. A team of German rocket scientists was relocated to the area by the U.S. government.

They also opened a NASA center that would go on to design the Saturn V. This was the spaceship that sent the Apollo astronauts to the moon.

Today, many residents of Huntsville proudly call themselves, nerds. The most educated residents of Alabama live in the metro area.

Due to the NASA center and the United States Army’s Redstone Arsenal, many people in the area are engineers.

While Huntsville is widely known as the home to aerospace and defense firms, over the years, it has also become known for its tech-related businesses.

In recent years, the city’s center has gone through a lot of changes.

New construction has brought more dining options, shopping, and apartment complexes.

The neighborhoods around the downtown area that were once considered shabby have become great places to live.

To the west, in an old cotton mill, there is now an arts center.

In an old middle school that has been renovated, there are bars and a craft brewery.

Rankings

U.S. News analyzed 125 metro areas in the U.S. to determine which was the best to live.

They based their decision on the quality of life and the job market in each area.

They also took into consideration the value of living in the metro area and how many people want to live there.

They ranked the city 11th place for Huntsville Alabama in Best Places To Live In USA.

What Is the Cost Of Living In Huntsville?

The cost of living in Huntsville is the highest in the state; however, as compared to other major metro areas in the U.S., residents pay less.

This is because the housing cost is less than in other metro areas.

The cost of groceries, transportation, and utilities fall within the average of other areas in the United States.

What Is the Weather Like In Huntsville?

Huntsville is like many areas in the south, hot and humid during the spring and summer.

It starts to get hot in April, and it doesn’t cool down until mid-October.

Huntsville is located in north Alabama, which is part of Tornado Alley. In this area, tornado watches and warnings are common during the spring and fall.

People who live there often keep an eye on their televisions and weather apps to be aware of these warnings and watches.

The temperature cools down during the winter, and it seldom snows.

Since snow is uncommon, just a half inch prompts schools to close.

What Is the Best Way To Get Around In Huntsville?

If you live in Huntsville, you will need a car.

Over the years, the metro area has made changes to make the area or bike-friendly and walkable; however, residents often drive everywhere.

Huntsville has a shuttle bus system.

There are nine full-time routes and two buses run on the weekends.

The buses don’t travel outside the metro area; therefore, it isn’t a convenient transportation option for many residents.

Huntsville has an international airport located just outside of town.

There, you can take American Airlines, United Airlines, or Delta Airlines flight.

You can take non-stop flights to major cities in the U.S., including Washington D.C, Dallas, Atlanta, and Chicago.

There is also a Greyhound bus station in Huntsville.

Who Lives In Huntsville?

Huntsville is trying to move more toward entertainment and downtown living options to attract young professionals; however, most of the residents are families.

Due to the military sector, it is also home to many military retirees.

About half of the residents have religious affiliations.

Most of the residents are Protestant, but there are places for the international population to worship, such as temples and mosques.

The areas in Huntsville with the highest median income are Limestone and Madison counties.

The homes on the east side of town are more affluent, and they are valued more than homes in the south of the city and in the center.

For the past 15-years, Huntsville has become the fastest growing metro area in Alabama.

By the year 2020, it is expected to be the most extensive metro area in Alabama.

Huntsville is a very diverse community.

Thanks to the defense sector and the high-tech companies, residents come from other parts of the country and the world to live in Huntsville.

It is more diverse than other metro areas of similar size in the Deep South.

What Is There To Do In Huntsville?

Space is part of Huntsville’s identity.

Residents can tour the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where they can learn about the history of space exploration.

It is also home to a place where many children want to go, Space Camp.

Huntsville is also home to many cultural attractions that have nothing to do with space.

You can see what Alabama was like in the 1800s at the Alabama Constitution Village.

You can learn about the history of train travel in Alabama t the Historic Southern Railway Station and the North Alabama Railroad Museum.

If you are into art, you can visit Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment.

It is a renovated textile mill and is the largest privately owned art center in the country.

Lowe Mill houses artists working in a number of mediums. It also features theater, live music, and is the city’s art headquarters.

The Huntsville Museum of Art displays a variety of permanent pieces and traveling exhibits.

Because Huntsville has a high international population due to the high-tech sector, the culinary scene is diverse.

There are restaurants that offer every type of food from German, to Vietnamese, to Indian cuisine.

You can also get Southern fares, such as farm-to-table cafes and barbecue restaurants.

Because of the warm climate, outdoor concerts and events are happening all the time.

Downtown you can go to a concert, a movie, or a food truck rally just about every weekend, except during the winter.

They also have huge pinball games, music tours, and laser light and music shows.

Hikers and mountain bikers enjoy Monte Sano, State Park.

Water sports lovers and boaters head to the Tennessee River and Lake Huntersville.