Which Is Better - Arab or Scottsboro??? (Huntsville, Albertville: hotel, jobs)

[notime362]

Can someone offer me any help? I was just told by my Realtor, I may have to move in three weeks, if I find my sale to be acceptable. I've been through Arab for about a 1/2 day, but have heard how nice and peaceful(and cheap) Scottsboro can be. Can someome offer me the Good, Bad, and Ugly for both towns?

[Rick in Dixie]

I'm a little partial to Arab, but thats because I live here, but I can be perfectly honest about a few things. Scottsboro is very rual, other than local stores like wally world and a few grocery stores , there's not much of any thing else unless you like to fish. Arab is rual also but we are a bed side community to Huntsville, we are about 20 minuets to the South. Most of our community works in Huntsville, but we are a very quite and friendly town and our School system is one of the best in the State. Like all small towns we all have our own brand of fun activities, such as several festivals each year, we are the home of the famous Polk Salad Festival. We have a nice city park and plenty of shopping and a local Hospital, I will addmit, there's not a lot of things for the children to do here other than school sports. Most run into Huntsville for things like skating or bowling. I think Scottsboro at the most has a skating rink. As far as cheap property, we have a good variety of homes from a modest 80,000 to 500,000 in some of the newer up scale developments. On the average , property is probably as cheap as Scottsboro in many locations. If I'm not mistaken, the job market in Scottsboro is very poor, they mostly have to commute to Huntsville as well as Arab residents, but at least we are closer to the Huntsville job market. Go take look at Scottsboro, talk to the people, look at some properties, you may like the area better than Arab, one things for sure, either way you choose , your still in Alabama The Beautiful.

[Southlander]

I think Scottsboro has very good schools. You're about 30 to 40 minutes from Huntsville...on the other hand, you're only an hour from Chattanooga. Sorry I don't know more...I usually just drive through!

[Keeper]

Scottsboro the city is bigger and more diverse than Arab. It also has a Home Depot and a few more grocery stores. There is the famous Unclaimed baggage store downtown. You are closer to Guntersville Lake. Goose Pond a subdivision before you get into Scottsboro has a swimming pool, nature walk and boat docks. I had a friend who lives on a houseboat there. He often drove to Chattanooga to shop. It is also a wet city, I believe.
Here is a link to Goose Pond..
Goose Pond Colony

Arab like Rick said is more of a bedroom community. Of course, we love living here, but there is not a lot for teenagers to do here. There is very little crime. Most houses have big lots and there really aren't any really bad areas, although there are a few streets where the houses are more run down, but that is the exception not the rule. They are not like areas of FL where you wouldn't drive after dark. There also isn't a big hispanic population here, mainly because there are not a lot of jobs for them here.
The city park is decorated for Christmas and there is going to be a Christmas parade, I think this weekend. Not gasparilla, but the ppl here love it.

[notime362]

You guys are making it tougher... I just revised my hotel reservations this morning, where I'll spend three days in Arab, and then to Scottsboro for three days, and then to Albertville for three more. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.... Can you give me a landmark on the area to avoid in Arab. I know, just look for the crappy houses, but isn't beauty in the eye of the beholder. It might look alright to me, but "OH GREAT ONE", I'm asking..... My wife works in the school cafeteria - do you think she might have a chance? She is Certified, and has a book full of certificates.... What else is on my mind... Everything - except Walgreens - closes on X-Mas. Where can I get dinner? Do you think the restaurant at the Holiday Inn might be open, or is there a Ryan's besides the one in Boaz... What happened the the "Good Old Days" when families gathered for the holidays? Am I nuts, or what.... You better pull the plug on me.... Mike TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU WORRIED ABOUT YESTERDAY.

[Keeper]

I will call for you tomorrow and find out if the Holiday Inn or Ryan's will be serving dinner on Christmas day.
The area I was referring to are just a few streets east of 231 between 4th ave and hwy 69 to main street. As I stated, the area itself isn't bad, just some not all of the houses are pretty old and rough looking . They are building some new houses in that area so it isn't that bad.
I saw a couple of homes in your price range in the paper today.