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Hey At1, I moved from the Chicago area 3 years ago to Huntsville / Madison County. The entire Huntsville area is seeing a ton of growth due to the Redstone Arsenal ( Military Base ) and the support contractors, as well as private corporations relocating to the area. We do have good public schools and they are continuing to build more. It is a great town to raise a family. The cost of living is considerably lower than in the city. For a good size home down here, property taxes are around $800 / yr. That's it. Compare that to my over $4,000 / yr. in a smaller home up there and I have friends in the $6k - $8k range as well.
As far as recreation, Lake Guntersville and the Tennessee River are very close and that gives you all the fishing and water sports you could ask for. They are a lot calmer than Lake Michigan. We have Monte Sano State Park ( on top of a mountain ) and Big Spring Park which is located in the middle of downtown Huntsville.
Compared to what you are used to, Huntsville isn't urban at all. It has a older small downtown area. They also have a ban, that the city council will not allow a building in the downtown area more than 10 stories tall. University Drive that connects Madison to Huntsville reminds me of Cicero Ave. where there is every store you can think of on it.
The winters are a lot milder. The summers remind me of Chicago's, hot and humid, but they are just longer here.
The only thing you will be missing is the food. And if you are a sports fan, you will miss that as well. Even though I do miss the food and sports, I am very happy with the move down here. Even when you hear people talk about the crime in Hsv, it is nothing compared to what you are used to. You will crack up when you see the "projects" or the bad areas here in Huntsville. Everything is nice an manicured, nothing like you would see near the ex-Robert Taylor homes or around 63rd and King Dr.
Yes, you should definitely come down and take a look for yourself first.
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