You're thinking of moving to Alabama, however you're not sure you've completely mulled-over all the super-important details prior to getting here at your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound good friend, you have actually come to the right location - we have actually assembled a helpful, tasty guide that will detail some of the most crucial points for someone in your position to evaluate.
We do not blame you for wishing to relocate to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering that the state is house to rocket researchers - Huntsville houses both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center at the Redstone Arsenal. The U.S. Army's lead rocket engineer, Wernher von Braun, led NASA's rocketry program throughout the '60s.
What else does the Yellowhammer State need to offer, besides substantial advances in the space program and unbelievably clever people? Plenty - from lovely landscapes that'll have you clicking your shutter so fast your cam starts steaming, to tasty soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting occasions. Keep reading to discover why you might simply make Alabama your next move.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census data, about 4.875 million people presently reside in the Cotton State. Get this - 55% of the individuals overall in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Research Study.
Well, for beginners, the state has several fast-growing task fields, consisting of computer science, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, airplane assembly and Emergency Medical Technician, among others, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers consist of pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law orthodontist, dental expert and judge, mentions bizjournals.com.
The current unemployment rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so chances are quite good for finding work upon your move. The federal minimum wage is the exact same as the nationwide average, nevertheless, at $7.25/ hour, mentions minimum-wage.
Do not forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight. If you've got a love for all-things aeronautical, this could extremely well be the brand-new house of your dreams.
Housing
You're probably going to want a place to live after you move (we're just guessing), so what's the probability of finding a new place you'll enjoy (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com mentions that the typical worth of houses presently on the marketplace is $128,900, with a typical listing rate of $190,000. The median home rent is $995/month, with one-bedroom houses averaging $824/month in Birmingham.
Houses in Alabama are mainly relatively new, too - zillow.com shows that many houses currently available were built in the decade 2000-2010. Not only are odds excellent for you to discover a cost effective place to live, but you'll likewise be looking at newish residential or commercial properties, too.
That being said, there's not much in the method of brand-new building and construction turning up nowadays, according to zillow.com. A little is happening in central Alabama, around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a small bit in the northern end of the state, in and around Huntsville.
If less expensive real estate, specifically around the state's hot-spots, interest you, you may just wish to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When transferring to a new place, you may be curious about the individuals there. Will they become your buddies, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and stare out of a slit in your blinds in total fear?
According to residents, locals can be a real variety. The agreement is that Alabamians like to gossip, are passive-aggressive, and might simply trick you with their underhanded insults. The expression "bless your heart" is not suggested warmly, however rather sarcastically - and if you hear it, odds are excellent that when you've left, you'll be talked about.
Do not let that deter you. Residents stress that the primary ambiance of their state is one of real southern hospitality - they utilize "sir" and "ma'am" out of respect, and will offer you a warm welcome and great deals of food. They may describe you as a Yankee if you're from the North, but this they actually do out of (buffooning) love.
You'll find yourself changing your vocabulary and pronunciations after a move to Alabama. Don't be the loser who sticks out like an aching thumb just because you're partial to your consonants.
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a popular event took place on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks bravely refused to offer up her seat on the bus to a white guy. Today, to honor this local lady's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, attracting great deals of tourists and residents alike.
The people of the Cotton State love BBQ - and we do mean CRAZY. They'll combat to the death (maybe not actually) over which dining establishment or regional cookout provides the very best. These are not conversations to be entered into gently. Be prepared to explain, and safeguard, your stance.
Residents will ALWAYS rock out to "Sugary Food Home Alabama" if it begins the radio, and they'll crank it up to 11. When they hear that well-known opening riff, even Alabamians who privately hate the tune will begin to boogie. The tune has made such an impression on the culture that it's even printed on license plates.
Alabamians pride themselves on their abundant food and cultural pride. They have uncommon, supposedly lobster-tasting shrimp called "Royal Reds" from the Gulf of Mexico, fried green tomatoes, super-sweet tea (heavy on the sweet, light on the tea) and MoonPies - and they smother whatever in TABASCOĂ’ sauce.
It appears fitting, with a diet that abundant and heavy, that residents like to observe a slower pace website of life. These self-proclaimed "salt of the earth" types will make you forget your health-enthusiast methods and have you reaching for seconds. Bring extra napkins.
Must-See Alabama Enjoyable + Activities
We know you're currently halfway out the door, baggage in hand, all set to make your relocate to the Heart of Dixie, but cool your jets for a minute. Before you go racing off like you're a chauffeur at Talladega Superspeedway, examine out this list we've assembled of some of the state's primary attractions.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss out on sights and activities:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Located in Huntsville, this museum includes access to the historical Shuttle Park and Rocket Park and showcases distinct artifacts from the nation's area exploration. It's considered to be the world's biggest space museum, and describes the history of the U.S. area program. It's also house to the yearly, highly expected Area Camp program featuring the Aviation Difficulty, in which trainees undergo training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's tallest cast iron statue stands a remarkable 56 feet tall. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel market - and he's kind of a big offer. His 100th birthday was a huge celebration that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 individuals.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Found in Woodville, this park offers cavern trips, campgrounds, treking and backpacking. It has the best entrance of any commercial cave in the world, and includes a sparkly Gems Mine with a gem mining experience available to any ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "most significant and baddest" track, it's situated in Lincoln and includes a hugely anticipated annual NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race chooses 188 laps, covering simply over 500 miles. Now that's a lot of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Found in Summerdale, this overload sanctuary has a raised boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and different kinds of wildlife. This is the place for you if you're into staring one of mankind's most significant natural predators virtually right in the face.
Benefits and drawbacks of Living in the Heart of Dixie
Before you ideal your BARBEQUE dish and run to see the alligators and the world's highest Vulcan, we thought it might be worth taking into account a short-and-sweet list of a couple of benefits and drawbacks of moving to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's obvious that property in the Cotton State is quite low-cost, and taxes are quite low. We suspect that's just one of the big reasons that 55% of relocators across the country in 2017 picked this as their brand-new home.
Nature + all four seasons: The terrain of Alabama is widely-varied, including forests, beaches and mountains. Because of this, there are plenty of activities for all different breeds of outdoorsy types. Residents likewise like to explain that they experience all 4 seasons and see weather condition from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, damp summertimes and spring torrential rainstorms.
Music: Due to the fact that of its area, the Yellowhammer State draws great deals of huge music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's biggest yearly music occasion. Huge names in all categories - varying from jazz to rock 'n' roll to nation - make looks here.
Food: As we've already mentioned, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a whopping 28 different food celebrations every year.
Distance to significant cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are simply day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime place lends itself to countless opportunities to see all sort of celebrations, performances, museums, state parks, going shopping tourist attractions and more. Did you truly think you 'd be bored here?
Humidity: Make that winter humidity. While the humidity in the summer is undeniably bad, it's the winter season that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the additional wetness triggers cold temperatures to feel absolutely frigid. Residents state that it's not unusual for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees. It might not be long prior to you're miserable here if you're not into feeling the extremes in every season.
Drug usage: The more rural locations of the state have genuine problems with poverty, homelessness and block after block of deserted homes. With this naturally comes troublesome drug use, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine labs are a genuine battle to break down on (no pun intended).
Extreme storms: While experiencing all 4 seasons can be argued as an advantage, it also suggests that there's chance for all type of stormy weather condition - and this state sees a few of the most serious. For starters, it is among the most active tornado states. The spring and fall seasons bring heavy thunderstorms, and mid-year brings hurricanes. At any time of year, homeowners undergo periods of seemingly random rainstorms, that can stop as rapidly as they start. Locals joke, "If you do not like the click here weather here, wait five minutes."
Strange Laws
We 'd be doing you a major injustice if we left without providing you a list of some of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still around in the state you're considering making your next homeland. We have actually assembled a few that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are just a couple of from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railroad track is punishable by death. They wish to keep their railways without livestock, and they're truly serious about it.
It's prohibited to impersonate a priest. Genuine. Stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comical efforts towards new product - you'll thank us later.
It's illegal to use a fake moustache in church due to the fact that it could trigger laughter. Religious beliefs is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's illegal to use a mask in public. Man, so what are we expected to do on Halloween?
It's unlawful to play dominoes on Sunday. It interrupts the day of rest.
Gotten ready for Landing in the Heart of Dixie
Well friends, there you have it - a thoroughly designed guide to a few of the primary consideration points for permanent relocation. Of course, we can't say and lie that we have the ability to give you definitely all the important details that might influence your choice (we 'd be here for days), but it's our hope that we have actually given you an excellent launching pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it's up to you to decide (after possibly doing some further research study) if you can visualize yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the not-at-all and excellent intimidating rocket researchers, the speedy racecar chauffeurs, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a genuine pleasure assembling this guide for you, and we hope you've had your fill of Alabama goodies.
Best of luck - and do not forget to memorize "Sugary food here Home Alabama."