Working at UAB and going to UA-Where to live? (Birmingham: how much, school)

[slynglover]

Hi all!

My husband is working at UAB, and has been for a year. We're living an hour north of Birmingham right now, but I am planning on pursuing a double Master's at University of Alabama, so we need to move. However, we don't want to live all the way in Tuscaloosa, since that will be just as far away from work.

My question is this: where would be the best place to live between the two cities? We have two young children, but we will be moving again before our oldest starts school, so school system is not as important. The most important is proximity to both UAB Hospital and UNiversity of Alabama.

Any help we can get would be wonderful! We don't know very much about the Tuscaloosa area, but we fairly familiar with the Birmingham metro.

Thank you!

[preguntas]

If you check a map you will notice that the interchange of I-459 and I-20/59 is the realistic midway point between DT/UAB, UA, and the commercial center of Hoover. This area will address all facets of your daily life needs. Work, school, shopping, entertainment and the unexpected. Travel time for you and your husband would be very similar. ( at this point, it will be affected as much by day of the week and time of day as it will by actual distance, so neither of you would be making a greater sacrifice)

McCalla is the most notable area of housing followed by Tannehill which would feel a bit more rural. There has been a housing boom in that part of Jefferson County due to the presence of Mercedes Benz. However the best options will almost always be south of I-459, and a little east of McCalla if you give it a try and see how the distance works for you. There is a Target and Publix near by for when you don't want to take a lot of time shopping. (Tannehill Promenade)
A new Publix is opening one block from UABH next Spring, so perhaps husband will end up doing the groceries.

At this location, barring unusual circumstances you both will be commuting under thirty minutes. I do the I-65 commute to Cullman once a week and I can tell you if your husband is using that route he will be pleasantly surprised at how much less traffic he will encounter in the suggested location

Good luck to you both.