[Ga2Ms]

We will be moving to be closer to family along the coast. We lived in Baton Rouge before and lost a home to flooding and had the yearly hurricane threats, outages, and damages.

We won't be doing that again. Between Hattiesburg Ms and Semmes Al (or surrounding area), what are the pros and cons of each. We live in a rural neighborhood in Canton, Ga. The congestion and traffic has become too much in the past couple of years. Rush hour traffic shouldn't mean 2-3 light changes to move.

1/2 to acre lots, safe neighborhood, not to far from grocery or restaurants (wife loves sushi).
Walking parks or able to walk or ride bikes in the neighborhood would be great.

Retiring in 6 years, so stability is a priority.

Any insight or advice is greatly appreciated.

[BelleFontaineMan]

Easily Semmes. Not much is happening for Hattisburg in general. Really the only pro that I can think of Hattisburg is that its gonna be cheaper. Crime is much higher in Hattisburg than Semmes and surround suburbs. Not much of Semmes is walkable (nearby Saraland is) but Semmes is minutes away from Langan Park and University of South Alabama both are also getting massive biking infrastructure upgrades right now.
I would recommend maybe going for a place North of Highway 158, on Lott Rd, or on MCcary road in Semmes. These areas are not walkable but they do offer larger lots than most suburbia. Lott Rd will be getting a new interchange on Highway 158 so you'll have easy access to rest of Mobile County (just 15 minutes away from Downtown Mobile where you'll find the most walkability and biking around and 5 minutes from Saraland's new massive commercial area on Highway 158 where traffic is much more manageable and will have everything you need including Publix, several pharmacies, several restaurants, a new hospital, mechanics etc etc (all less than 10 years old btw)).

Walmart Supercenter is also on the West Side of the notorious Current 98/Schillinger Intersection in Semmes, living on Mccary Rd or Lott Road and North (or west) will place you on the west side of the city meaning you can get to Walmart without dealing with the intersection

Side Note: Mobile metro is home to better HealthCare. Mobile metro is home to 6 Major Hospitals, including a Level I Trauma Center (rest are level III). Hattisburg only has 1 major hospital and is only a Level II Trauma Center

[Ga2Ms]

Originally Posted by BelleFontaineMan

Easily Semmes. Not much is happening for Hattisburg in general. Really the only pro that I can think of Hattisburg is that its gonna be cheaper. Crime is much higher in Hattisburg than Semmes and surround suburbs. Not much of Semmes is walkable (nearby Saraland is) but Semmes is minutes away from Langan Park and University of South Alabama both are also getting massive biking infrastructure upgrades right now.
I would recommend maybe going for a place North of Highway 158, on Lott Rd, or on MCcary road in Semmes. These areas are not walkable but they do offer larger lots than most suburbia. Lott Rd will be getting a new interchange on Highway 158 so you'll have easy access to rest of Mobile County (just 15 minutes away from Downtown Mobile where you'll find the most walkability and biking around and 5 minutes from Saraland's new massive commercial area on Highway 158 where traffic is much more manageable and will have everything you need including Publix, several pharmacies, several restaurants, a new hospital, mechanics etc etc (all less than 10 years old btw)).

Walmart Supercenter is also on the West Side of the notorious Current 98/Schillinger Intersection in Semmes, living on Mccary Rd or Lott Road and North (or west) will place you on the west side of the city meaning you can get to Walmart without dealing with the intersection

Side Note: Mobile metro is home to better HealthCare. Mobile metro is home to 6 Major Hospitals, including a Level I Trauma Center (rest are level III). Hattisburg only has 1 major hospital and is only a Level II Trauma Center

Thank you. I was told that Hattiesburg suburbs didn't have much crime. I'll look into that more.
What about hurricane damage? How does Semmes fair? I don't know the area ar all, so I will look at those locations you mentioned.
I really appreciate the advice and info. I also wasn't aware of the number of hospitals. Mother in law has a pacemaker.
What about traffic into/out of Mobile? Is it just morning and evening rush hours? Or just avoid Mobile if we can? Doctor visits are a concern, and my wife doesn't drive on interstates or big highways.
Again, thank you.

[BamaDave]

Well, Semmes is only about 30 miles inland, so there is certainly a risk of hurricane threats and wind damage. That would be lower in Hattiesburg, which is about 70 miles inland.

[BelleFontaineMan]

Originally Posted by Ga2Ms

Thank you. I was told that Hattiesburg suburbs didn't have much crime. I'll look into that more.
What about hurricane damage? How does Semmes fair? I don't know the area ar all, so I will look at those locations you mentioned.
I really appreciate the advice and info. I also wasn't aware of the number of hospitals. Mother in law has a pacemaker.
What about traffic into/out of Mobile? Is it just morning and evening rush hours? Or just avoid Mobile if we can? Doctor visits are a concern, and my wife doesn't drive on interstates or big highways.
Again, thank you.

You'll be fine when it comes to Hurricanes, storm surge is impossible for the city, Flooding is also very unlikely since the city rests on top of a large hill. Wind damage from a category 3 and below are no different than you'll find from cold fronts. Category 4s and 5s are INCREDIBLY rare to happen for the area.

As for Infrastructure (outside the interstate system), Its just Morning and Even rush hours really. The closest Major Hospital for you is gonna be Providence Hospital in West Mobile on Airport Blvd. The other 2 big name hospitals (USA Hospital and Mobile Infirmary) are a little farther in Midtown Mobile, (USA being the Level I Trauma Center). They are both straight shots from Current 98 tho, not sure of the traffic within Mobile on 98, just know that the Semmes area (98/Schillingers) seems to be chokepoint for the highway, so I imagine the rest of 98 shouldn't be as bad

[SkyperTyper]

I would assert that the cultures are dissimilar in many ways, but not a dichotomy. Semmes would be my first choice however.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by BelleFontaineMan

You'll be fine when it comes to Hurricanes, storm surge is impossible for the city, Flooding is also very unlikely since the city rests on top of a large hill. Wind damage from a category 3 and below are no different than you'll find from cold fronts. Category 4s and 5s are INCREDIBLY rare to happen for the area.

As for Infrastructure (outside the interstate system), Its just Morning and Even rush hours really. The closest Major Hospital for you is gonna be Providence Hospital in West Mobile on Airport Blvd. The other 2 big name hospitals (USA Hospital and Mobile Infirmary) are a little farther in Midtown Mobile, (USA being the Level I Trauma Center). They are both straight shots from Current 98 tho, not sure of the traffic within Mobile on 98, just know that the Semmes area (98/Schillingers) seems to be chokepoint for the highway, so I imagine the rest of 98 shouldn't be as bad

A cat 3 is certainly worse than a cold front, LOL. I'm 50 miles inland and I had trees down everywhere from Sally last year.

On the flip side, Hattiesburg seems to be more prone to tornadoes, so pick your poison.

[SkyperTyper]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

A cat 3 is certainly worse than a cold front, LOL. I'm 50 miles inland and I had trees down everywhere from Sally last year.

On the flip side, Hattiesburg seems to be more prone to tornadoes, so pick your poison.

You got that right!

[BelleFontaineMan]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

A cat 3 is certainly worse than a cold front, LOL. I'm 50 miles inland and I had trees down everywhere from Sally last year.

On the flip side, Hattiesburg seems to be more prone to tornadoes, so pick your poison.

I don't know man, duration of wind from a hurricane will certainly do you in but in terms of pure strength and speed, Stright Lines Winds living in Tuscaloosa are by far the worst wind event I've experienced so far (living through Katrina and Ivan) which came from a cold front, destroyed several roofs and knocked over a few large trees in the immediate vicinity of my neighborhood

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by BelleFontaineMan

Not much is happening for Hattisburg in general. Really the only pro that I can think of Hattisburg is that its gonna be cheaper. Crime is much higher in Hattisburg than Semmes and surround suburbs.

Yeah OK buddy. Hattiesburg has a great economy at the moment, and crime isn't that bad. Certainly no worse than the Mobile area.

That's fine if you prefer Semmes but don't just spout inaccurate information.