Relocating to ALabama (Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile: property taxes, housing, lease)

[chivon2008]

Hello
I need some help!
I am looking to relocated to the great state of ALabama within the next 5 to 6 months. I am am in a bind on where to settle. Could someone please throw out some helpful hints for me. I am looking for not so fast city but not so rural. good schools and great job opportunity. I have heard that Prattville, Millbrook, are some good places and its not that far from Montgomery if I wanted to go into the city for a little bit.
Please help

Thanks

[Bravo35223]

I honestly think you could do better than the Montgomery area....

The vast majority of the members here live in the Huntsville metro and Birmingham metro...sometimes downtown and sometimes in the outer suburbs where residents want land and it's less expensive.

As a generality, schools are considerably better in North Alabama...more progessive and better funded. Additionally, Birmingham and Huntsville have more diversified economies....

1) What type of job are you looking for?

2) What is your housing budget?

[Keeper]

Bravo is right.. with a little more info we can give you info on where to look.
There are a lot of places in N. AL which would fit your needs. Property taxes and HOI are VERY cheap compared to FL. Not sure where you live in FL but I came here from Tampa 2 years ago.

[harry chickpea]

OK, I'm a little grumpy this morning, and am surprised that you have had a couple of responses.

Moderator cut: off topic

[Reactionary]

Grumpy Harry - I don't ever want to get on your bad side, LOL.

[butterflyauntie]

What about Cullman? It is a growing community that maintains the classic southern values. There are four lakes in the county and it is located about 20 minutes from the Tennessee river, 45 minutes from Huntsville and an hour outside of Birmingham. Beautiful properties with lots of land and Cullman Highschool is known for its academics.

[Southlander]

Cullman is a very good choice.
It all depends on what kind of job you will be looking for. Some areas are in better shape jobwise than others...depending on the kind of work you're looking for.
Personally, I'd rather have a job lined up before I moved.

[gustygulas]

Calera is growing and there are people that work in Birmingham and Montgomery that live there. Also a town called Adger has some homes on the lake and has a good school system, Oak Grove, and housing is very affordable. This is about 30 minutes from Birmingham

[downtowndoll]

I'm really surprised that noone is suggesting Mobile area or at least the Eastern Shore. A town that was founded in 1702, has Mardi Gras, and water all around has got to be great! I love our climate here, especially around the Bay area. Frost rarely happens close to the Bay.
Of course, we aren't known for our school system but actually it's pretty good. It's just not supported and has bad publicity.
Job growth seems to be good here.

[TSmith1986]

Look around the Gardendale or Trussville areas; these would be kind of like the Millbrook / Prattville area, but should be a little better quality. Close to BHM, but not too close; G'Dale is about 20 minutes north of BHM. Very safe area - great place to raise kids etc... The Gardendale schools are supposed to be one of the best in the Jefferson County system and they are in the process of building a brand new high school; the Junior High is very good. G'dale has (2) private schools as well. I do not know a lot about Trussville; I think the schools are pretty good and if you want Target; WalMart; Best Buy etc... Trussville has all you want. I have lived in G'dale and Millbrook; my vote would be G'dale.