Pelham/Helena vs. Trussville.... (house, to buy, good schools)

[verycareful]

I'm moving the B'ham area in a couple of months. Based on certain criteria such as housing costs, schools, distance from job, etc., I believe that I've narrowed my search down to the Pelham/Helena and Trussville. I'll be working off of 280. I'm looking to buy in the 175 to 225 range. What are the pros and cons of both areas.

Thanks-in-advance

[Bravo35223]

They are both nice areas....Helena is an old town and still maintains a genuine little downtown area that has been praised in the national press.

City of Helena, Alabama: Living in Helena

Pelham is a very rapidly growing area...it has an interesting angle to it that the others don't. If you like to play either golf or tennis, the City of Pelham has superb municipally-owned golf and tennis facilities.

Pelham, Alabama: Racquet-Racquet Club

Ballantrae Golf Club

The mayor had a goal to make their golf and tennis facilities so good, that you wouldn't need a country club and he succeeded in a big way. Pelham also has a very nice civic center which includes two large ice skating rinks.

Trussville is also nice and has good schools and is growing its retail in a big way. The advantage you would have living in Trusville vs. Pelham would be your drive to work would be a bit easier as I-65 North is pretty clogged in the mornings vs. I-459 which can carry heavy traffic better.

I think all three are good choices frankly....

[gustygulas]

I am a resident of Pelham so I will give you as much help as possible. Pelham/Helena is in Shelby County which for the past 10 years has been one of the fastest growing counties in America. Pelham and Helena have affordable housing and you can get a great house in your price range. Now I personally am not a fan of the traffic. The rush hour traffic takes awhile, but it could be nothing depending where you are moving from. It is my estimation that traffic is a little worse for Helena because there is not direct interstate access. Just like Bravo said, it is one of the top 100 best places to live according to Forbes magazine.

Trussville has grown tremendously as well and as for traffic goes, I am not an expert. I would say it is busy, but you have direst access to I459 and I59. Distance wise to Downtown I believe is pretty close for all Trussville and Pelham and a little further for Helena.

Overall, I believe that any of the three areas you choose will be very good and you will be very happy.

Gusty Gulas