Avoid Huntsville - 8/15/2013

Avoid this city as if it had the plague. The people are ultra ring wing almost to a facist level. I had on more than one time worked for certain companies and did not receive a paycheck from them. Very high crime rate about two muders a week.

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How do you define "Quality of Life?" - 8/5/2013

I grew up in Huntsville, left when I was 20 and lived in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Came back at 35 for family reasons. If you are moving here from some tiny, nowhere town, you may think it's great. If you are used to living in a more liberal city with arts, culture and a diverse population, you will probably hate it. Huntsville is very conservative. You can't throw a stick without hitting a church. It's a dreadful place for gay people or straight singles. Anybody who is single is in for a lonely life here. If you are a conservative, white, christian family person who also happens to be an engineer, congratulations!! This is your paradise. If you are anything else, forget it. I regularly hear racist and sometimes homophobic comments. The old idea of "Southern Hospitality" is also nonsense. People will be very polite to your face and then turn around and gossip like crazy about you, all the while proclaiming to be a christian. Most of the restaurants are chain restaurants. The summers are brutally humid and hot, like sub-Saharran Africa hot. Walking out your front door is literally like stepping into a steam sauna. And they last for about 5 months. Also, not many people know this but due to the fact that so many people fly here for government contract-related business (and those costs are reimbursed), Huntsville has the highest average cost for airline tickets in the country!!!!! So if you like to travel, plan to spend A LOT to fly anywhere! The city is also very spread out. The downtown area is pretty with charming old houses, but it isn't an area where most people actually live. In my opinion, housing costs are quite high for a city of this size in Alabama. Definitely visit several times (and specifically during the summer months) before moving here.

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Very boring place to live with crappy weather - 1/28/2013

Moved here from Florida - mistake! Yes, lots of good jobs here, but there is nothing to do unless you are an Alabama or Auburn fan. Lack of professional sports is frustrating. Locals aren't very friendly so forget "Southern hospitality"! You hold the door for people here and good luck on getting a thank you. Weather is always changing, and rarely comfortable. Lots of cold, gray days in the winter and last summer there was a week straight of over 100 degrees! We never hit 100 in Florida! Drivers are crazy, fast and rude. Can't do much yardwork since the ground is hard red clay so forget digging. If you're really into hiking, Alabama football, don't care about the weather and don't want any nightlife, this is the place for you! To be fair, things like gas and utilities and property taxes are cheaper here, but you get what you pay for!

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Great quality of life - 11/29/2011

Huntsville has a great quality of life for families. The traffic is minimal compared to big cities like Atlanta and DC. The crime is pretty low, overall. It does not have all the ammenities of big cities, but lots less hassle. It is great for those who like the outdoors. I think the single scene is not so good here.

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A City with Pro's and Con's Like Most . . . - 7/8/2011

As of 7/8/2011: I have lived in the Huntsville area for 10+ years, having moved here from Maryland. There are plenty of comments in this forum both extolling the good and the bad. Every city has these. It all depends on your personal likes and dislikes, things you are looking for in a city, and your own experiences. In my 10+ years here, I have seen a lot of growth, especially in the suburbs to the NW. If you are an old timer from the area, the presence of some suburban sprawl is probably annoying. From my perspective, it is still less than some larger cities in Maryland and Ohio. Traffic has increased quite a bit over the last few years, but again this is nothing compared to larger cities (although it might be annoying if you have lived here all all your life and like things the way they used to be. Lots of housing going up in the NW, although this has slowed somewhat here of late. Housing prices have risen accordingly, but are still cheaper than some larger cities. As far as recreation is concerned, if you like hunting/fishing/golf, then you have come to the right place. I am not much of a night life person so I cannot comment on this. There is a local minor league baseball team, but the locals are very fervent about their college football (think Alabama vs. Auburn). Plenty of places for water activities (boating, fishing, etc). There are a decent number and variety of restaurants, but my opinion is that Huntsville is a little lacking in this area. This would also hold true for general goods and services. The weather is quite variable. Winters are usually mild, although we did get 7" of snow once this winter (this is extremely unusual). Summers tend to be on the hot side (90+ usually). We have our share of violent weather (tornado outbreak of 4/27/11 is an extreme example). Since the way weather affects a person is extremely subjective, some will like the southern weather, others will not. There is a great mix of people here in around Huntsville that may not be representative of the rest of Alabama (maybe 30-40 miles outside of town). There are a lot of transplants from other places due to jobs, military, etc. For the most part, I have found southern people to be friendlier than their northern counterparts, but this is a subjective comment. There are plenty of churches in the area, mostly baptist of one strip or another. A lot of activities used to be planned around church events, but this is slowly changing here of late. The job market has been a little better than some other parts of the country during these uncertain economic times. A vast majority of the jobs are in the technical sector. In recent times however, the job market here has been a little shaky as layoffs are starting to occur with regularity. Yes, the drivers here are not the best. But this may be due to the influx of people from around the country as much as anything else. Contributing to this is the fact that long time residents are used to driving on roads that were much less congested than they are now. I have been all around the country, and everybody has their fair share of bad drivers. That's about all I can think of at the moment.

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Looking for ideas on best city to raise a family - 2/15/2011

20 Years of army and air force and now we are ready to retire. We are looking for ideas on great places to raise a family. We have an 11 year old autistic son and we are looking for a diverse place to work and go to school any ideas. we go to church, like meeting new people, but not the party types, we enjoy every type of music. I am african american my husband is biracial. We love to go to coffee shops and restaurants. We love theatres, them parks, to have dinner parties, nothing extravagant just a few close friends, etc. any good ideas

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alkjdf - 5/18/2010

kajdf;lj

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No Traffic in Huntsville - 2/25/2010

Responding to a few posts from people complaining about traffic in Huntsville. There is no traffic in Huntsville. Rush hour is never lower than 50 MPH. Some two lane streets in Madison get a little clogged (Hughes Road, Madison Pike) but that's Madison (where they vote "NO" on "YES" for everything including road projects). Otherwise, Governors, Memorial Parkway, and Cecil Ashburn/Four Mile Post move quite fast even at rush hour.

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Huntsville sucks - 2/13/2010

Nuff said. Don't move here. Rednecks and weirdos in one town, plus all of the jobs are about to dry up on the arsenal, and as of the other day, NASA. BRAC people were supposed to move here, but it I hear thats not as big as it once was. Best hing to do when you hear Huntsville is run. You sure don't want to be an outsider here. Madison is even worse.....

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HUNTSVILLE - 10/27/2009

Huntsville does have the WORST DRIVERS..that is definately not a dispute, I do dispute the homes, the houses are the best features they are all afordable, and I have seen new sub-divisions that have the ugliest homes, but the older homes are average and nice.Huntsville does not have a night life unless a hole in the wall is sufficient for you.(not Me) I hate it here because I went to school here, higher education does not give you much options for programs they are either medical or engineering. Huntsville could use better manners too especially with customer service which sucks but one thing Huntsville has is Bridge Street! and that is about as much action as you are gonna get. And great programs for children great place to retire or just raise a family THATS ALL FOLKS!

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Huntsville stinks! Don't move here! - 9/18/2009

After living here almost two years I am SOOO ready to move back to Birmingham. Another reviewer had similar thoughts so I know I am not alone. Huntsville is not a great place to live/work. First of all it has the ugliest most overpriced houses - most houses in the desirable areas like Blossomwood, and Jones Valley are 1970's ranchers that are just plain ugly and overpriced for what they are. We don't want to live all the way out in Madison or in Hampton Cove. Downtown is the only pretty area besides the Ledges. Literally the worst drivers in the world live here - I think it is all the old people. Lots and Lots of retirees here who don't know how to drive. People here are either weirdo engineers with no personalities, bumpkin trash from the outer areas, and the old huntsville elite. The "Old Huntsville Elite" are not friendly or welcoming. The engineer crowd is weird and the bumpkins well enough said. My husband is even from here and it still sucks. Huntsville only has one good restaurant Cotten Row - other than that no good dining and awful service. Seriously the service in restaurants in Huntsville is teenagers who have no concept of service.....awful! Yes Huntsville does have a symphony so that counts as "culture." But other than that it sucks!

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Huntsville Sucks - 9/18/2009

After living here almost two years I am SOOO ready to move back to Birmingham. Another reviewer had similar thoughts so I know I am not alone. Huntsville is not a great place to live/work. First of all it has the ugliest most overpriced houses - most houses in the desirable areas like Blossomwood, and Jones Valley are 1970's ranchers that are just plain ugly and overpriced for what they are. We don't want to live all the way out in Madison or in Hampton Cove. Downtown is the only pretty area besides the Ledges. Literally the worst drivers in the world live here - I think it is all the old people. Lots and Lots of retirees here who don't know how to drive. People here are either weirdo engineers with no personalities, bumpkin trash from the outer areas, and the old huntsville elite. The "Old Huntsville Elite" are not friendly or welcoming. The engineer crowd is weird and the bumpkins well enough said. My husband is even from here and it still sucks. Huntsville only has one good restaurant Cotten Row - other than that no good dining and awful service. Seriously the service in restaurants in Huntsville is teenagers who have no concept of service.....awful! Yes Huntsville does have a symphony so that counts as "culture." But other than that it sucks!

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Great place to live - 7/19/2009

Huntsville is great it has a lot to offer just about anyone great food, places to see and things to do. The weather is really nice as long as you like warm places :)There seems to more "transplants" then "natives" because of the military base and the engineers. Every one seems to be very welcoming of new people to the area.

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No to Huntsville - 6/13/2009

Huntsville sucks. The People "From" there look down their noses at the "Transplant trash" (I have heard this term regularly)who live here in the suburbs. The down town Southern elite vs. us people who are here to work. The rest of the town and surrounding "cities" are just bumpkin trash, who infiltrate the town on the weekends. I was transferred here and have a good job, but I'm moving.

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Hampton Cove in Huntsville - 3/26/2009

I live in Hampton Cove. It is well maintained, pretty, and fairly convenient to most amenities in Huntsville. The HOA does an outstanding job of keeping the public areas mowed, trimmed, and full of cheerful flowers and landscaping. There are no ugly power lines like one would see in the majority of the Huntsville Madison metro. Most residents are educated and professional. Many residents are transplants from high cost locations such as Northern Virginia and Southern California. The local schools are Hampton Cove Elementary and Hampton Cove Middle school and these schools are at the top of the ratings for the region's public schools. It is the only large scale master planned community in the Huntsville/Madison metro. Most residents work in either the Medical District, the Redstone Arsenal, or the Cummings Research Park. The streets are loaded with kids and safety is the last concern on anyone's mind. Property values in the Huntsville area actually increased over 3% in the 2008-2009 time frame - which is remarkable considering the majority of US markets went down considerably. The unemployment rate for degreed engineers in the Huntsville metro is a stunning 0.2%. Hampton Cove is surrounded by foothills which provide a few to just about every home in the community - it truly is in a cove. Hampton Cove residents use the (real) Olympic Size (50 meter) outdoor pool for swim team competition, lessons, and summer fun. In addition a brand new fitness facility will open at the end of summer 2009. This will replace the existing fitness facility. Hampton Cove kids play soccer, basketball, and softball in the local park so schlepping over to downtown Huntsville for sports is not necessary.

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Very specialized workforce - 7/31/2008

Huntsville is a nice place to live as it relates to the cost of taxes, cost of homes, and overall climate. However, the employment opportunities are limited to very specialized software engineers and university professors. I possess an advanced degree and over a decade and a half years of experience, yet it has been difficult to secure employment at a comprable wage.

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Rocket City - 7/18/2008

Well educated populace, progressive small city, high tech atmosphere, with a modest cost of living, and a nice warm climate.

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the skinny - 7/4/2008

lived here for 20 years : climate: good, except for the occasionally Africa hot period in July/Aug and, odd tornado in spring or freak ice storm in winter cost of living: not bad except for housing is getting a bit out of control for a city this small crime: good but certain areas are bad of course, mostly all north of University Blvd Culture and Recreation: nearly non-existant. After you have been to the space and rocket center you pretty much have done it all. Monte Sano state park is nice though. Economy: superb if you are an engineer. Education: some really good and some really bad - depends on your hood. University is UAH, but is more like a community college. Health: large medical complex downtown if you need it. Most of the population is of the couch potato variety and it shows around the waist line. Housing: some of the most charming old housing districts you will find and plenty of new stuff further out. But the prices are going crazy with all of the BRAC folks coming in. Politics: Mostly conservative with the engineer set, but has elected a democrat to congress for a long time Quality of life: very very easy to live here. Some people are friendly but many won't even look to hold the door open for someone. There is very little community pride IMO or togetherness feel to the place. Everyone basically works and goes home and watches TV. If you are single man expect to date yourself, the ratio is not in your favor, probably the worst in the country for you. no joke. Recreation: not much I tell ya. Space and Rocket center, Monte Sano, Big Spring park is nice, Big Spring Jam in the fall. Some cool bars downtown but they are all full of single dudes, not much fun for guys (who have to look at other dudes all night) and girls (who get hounded like crazy) Religion: plenty of protestants, the hard core kind. Transportation: low commute times, their is a Huntsville shuttle now, and some trolley buses that run around downtown.

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Huntsville: - 6/8/2008

Huntsville is a melting pot of international cultures, located in the Deep South, that is characterized by a cosmopolitan atmosphere unexpected in Alabama. Home for Werner Von Braun and his German rocket team, it was in Huntsville the US space program was born and from which the Army Missile programs have also found their headquarters. Yet, this former cotton mill town served as first capitol of Alabama, was home to Tallulah Bankhead, and still proudly preserves grand antebellum homes dating from the 1800s. At the same time, three modern universities that include a medical school and world-renowned engineering schools operate in a community that has its own symphony, opera society, art museum, a wide range of live theater venues, US Space & Rocket Center and the US Space Camp. For much more complete information please link to www.ci.huntsville.al.us and/or www.huntsville.org.

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HUNTSVILLE - 5/12/2008

great place!!

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