Huntsville Area...need help!! (Decatur, Madison: rental, crime, houses)

[zukigixxer85]

I am new to the board, so hello!! My family and I are already in Huntsville, I had lived here most of my life but am not familiar with where to find rental listings or the average rental amount for a home is. We have a 7 month old daughter and would like to stay away from the bad parts of town....any websites, papers, realtors anyone knows of that we should look into or talk to? Help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!

[deesonic]

I'm new to the board here too. I just moved back to Huntsville after a 10 year absence and very happy to be back. This place has really grown and changed over those years. I was born and raised here. To answer your questions...

Try the following links:
removed (check the Huntsville classifieds)

As for "bad" areas... that to me is a very subjective label. I grew up in a part of Huntsville that many might call a "bad" area near the Bob Wallace Ave/Triana Blvd intersection. I attended SR Butler High School and Stone Middle Schools. Those two schools are typically considered schools to avoid. I can't argue with that I guess, but I went to both and I turned out ok. In the past 10 years, I lived in LA, Denver, Baltimore, and three Georgia cities (Athens, Augusta, and Savannah). There are no "bad" areas that come close to rough areas I saw in all of those cities. And after all those years away, I came right back to the neighborhood I grew up in. So, my suggestion would be to check with the Huntsville Police Dept for crime statistics if that's a concern. Or check with school ratings and reports (www.greatschools.net is good site). You can also check with local realtors for property value analyses of various areas.

But here's some thoughts on areas of Huntsville...

For typical suburban clean, safe, good schools, although bland and sterile in my opinion, try Madison, South Huntsville, Hampton Cove areas.

For country living close to the city, try Hazel Green/Meridianville, Owens Crossroads, Gurley, New Market, New Hope, or Lacey Springs (or is it Lacey's Spring). Or you could even cross the state line into southern Lincoln County, TN.

If you love historic older homes and neighborhoods with lots of character and culture, try downtown neighborhoods like Twickenham or Old Town (if you can afford them), or 5 Points.

Another really neat neighborhood that is brand new, but has the charm and feel of homes built in the 1800s, try Providence Village. But homes in this new hip neighborhood are in the $500K and up range unfortunately. So, I'll never live there.

If you don't mind a little bit of commuting, the Decatur and Athens areas have lots of nice areas too.

Anyway, I'm very pleased to be home. My job here pays better for an equal position I had in Savannah, GA (where we just moved from). My house costs about 1/2 of what I paid in Savannah! Taxes are cheaper and overall, this town is much safer and friendlier. I'll miss the sultry beauty of Savannah and all of its historic areas, but all in all, I have no regrets of returning home.

Welcome to Huntsville (if you come). I don't think you can go wrong here.

[deesonic]

Well I guess the city-data police have removed my link for whatever reason. Well, how about this... Using a www. then add a certain 2 letter abbreviation for our wonderful state followed by a dot. Then add the ever popular com to the end and you got it and hit enter. Look for classifieds link and pick Huntsville.

[KeBurt]

Great info -- Well said. I grew up in Atlanta, have lived all over (including 7 years in the Windy City) -- In Nashville now. Considering a move to Huntsville soon. Appreciate the commentary; should help me out a lot!

[tdugan5]

Originally Posted by deesonic

I'm new to the board here too. I just moved back to Huntsville after a 10 year absence and very happy to be back. This place has really grown and changed over those years. I was born and raised here. To answer your questions...

Try the following links:
removed (check the Huntsville classifieds)


If you love historic older homes and neighborhoods with lots of character and culture, try downtown neighborhoods like Twickenham or Old Town (if you can afford them), or 5 Points.


Welcome to Huntsville (if you come). I don't think you can go wrong here.

Just would like to throw my 2 cents in on that. There are alot of different parts of the Five Points area including Dallas, Oak Park, Darwin, Olde Town, Historical District and Chapman Heights. I grew up in the Dallas area and I will go ahead and tell you, every other part of Five Points is a great place to live, but try to avoid the Dallas area (along Andrew Jackson all the way to Oakwood). While there are some nice houses for cheap over there (usually duplexes), there are also alot of run-down ones, and the crime is rising over there. Two of the last five murders this year have been over there, and a convenient store recently just got robbed clean. But don't get me wrong, its not near the worst neighborhood in Huntsville by any means, and that whole area is good for living, but I'm just saying if I were to move anywhere in the Five Points area I would check into the other neighborhoods first.