Rocket City Life: What it’s Like Living in Huntsville, AL

Are you looking for a new city to call home? Why don’t you give Rocket City life a try? Now the largest city in the state, Huntsville Alabama (aka “Rocket City) has been growing rapidly, and it’s not hard to see why. Famous for its booming tech sector, and rich history, Huntsville has a lot to offer. Here are just some of the many reasons you’ll love living in Huntsville.

Let’s be honest, the cost of living is one of the biggest factors to consider when it comes to deciding where to settle down. Luckily for the residents of Rocket City, Huntsville ranks well on most cost of living metrics. 

According to the Economic Research Institute, Huntsville Alabama is 12% below the national average for cost of living. This is largely due to housing and healthcare costs being significantly lower than the national average. 

Getting into housing can take some time due to a housing shortage, but don’t let that discourage you. You can still enjoy all that Huntsville has to offer by taking advantage of monthly rates for less traditional housing options.

Whether you choose to buy or rent your home, Huntsville offers all the best parts of city life, without the big city price tags.

Job Opportunities

Most of us have to work to live, that’s just a fact of life. Luckily, Huntsville has a lot of amazing job opportunities to choose from, especially for those interested in STEM.

There’s a reason that Huntsville’s nickname is “Rocket City”. During the Space Race of the 1950s and 1960s, the rockets that put men on the moon were developed in Huntsville. Since then, big names in engineering, technology, and defense have planted roots in the city. NASA, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Lockheed Martin are just a few of the big players in the Huntsville area. United States Military positions represent a significant portion of employment opportunities in the area. 

If you aren’t into tech, don’t worry! Though science and technology are major drivers of the city’s economy, they aren’t the only employment options. As the saying goes: “a rising tide raises all ships”. Overall, Huntsville is rated as one of the best (if not the best) job markets in the country.

Education

If you are interested in pursuing higher education, you can’t find a better city. Residing in Huntsville means living close to multiple colleges and universities. The list of local educational institutions in Huntsville includes, but is not limited to:

• University of Alabama
• Alabama A&M University
• John C. Calhoun State Community College
• JF Drake State Technical College
• Huntsville Bible College
• And more!

As you can expect in a city with a large STEM sector, several of the schools on this list specialize in aerospace and engineering fields, However, the nursing, agriculture, and business programs are also on par with the best programs in the country!

Huntsville may be a small city, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. There’s so much to do in Huntsville! Whether you’re a lover of art, nature, music, science, sports, craft beer, or food- there’s plenty for you to enjoy. 

Here’s a little taste of some of the best things to do in Rocket City:

1. U.S. Space and Rocket Center: Be an astronaut for a day at the Space Center. Experience simulated weightlessness, and view large-screen movies filmed by astronauts in space. Develop your love of math and science like never before!
2. Twickenham Historic District: Did you know that Huntsville was once named “Twickenham”? That’s one of the many facts you’ll learn in the city’s first Historic Preservation District. See the state’s largest collection of pre-Civil War Homes in Old Town. 
3. Huntsville Botanical Garden: If you need a break from the city, escape into the natural beauty of the Huntsville Botanic Garden. Open year-round, the garden offers serene, accessible interactions with plants and wildlife for people of all ages.
4. William B. Bankhead National Forest: If you need more nature than a garden can provide, try visiting a forest. The William B. Bankhead National Forst covers over 181,000 acres of untouched woodlands, just outside of the city, the perfect distance for a weekend away. 
5. Cathedral Caverns: For a little underground fun, check out Cathedral Caverns. Just a short 35-minute drive from Huntsville, the caverns are a series of chambers filled with underground streams and fantastical cave formations. It’s a true “must-see” for locals and tourists alike.
6. Huntsville International Airport: Make your journey to the city easy by traveling through the Huntsville International Airport. Easily accessible from downtown, the airport makes it easy to come and go. Though, with so much to do in the city, we don’t know why you’d want to leave!

In addition to all the big attractions, there are also hundreds of smaller points of interest. Spend your afternoons exploring local shops, galleries, museums, and restaurants. No matter what your taste, there is something for everyone in Huntsville!

Community Life

The city boasts a population of over 200,000 people from all around the world. Over 100 languages are spoken in the city and more than 10% of the population are natives of other countries. With such a large and diverse population it would be easy for Huntsville to feel like a city of strangers, but that’s not the case.

Despite its size and diversity, Huntsville manages to maintain a friendly, home-town vibe often associated with small towns. There are community events for every occasion and interest all year round. You can always see what’s going on by checking out the city’s events on the City Even Calendar.