Anyone from Blue Origin moving to Huntsville AL? (Seattle: houses, schools)

[DonaldD]

I work at NASA in Huntsville, AL. I hear rumors that no engineer at Kemp Washington wants to move to the new Blue Origin's engine plant in Huntsville AL. Just curious if this true. I am personally from Tampa Florida and love the Huntsville area. It is a great place to raise a family, not to mention the affordability. Not sure why people from the West Coast despise the thought of moving here. Any thoughts.

[Seacove]

Alabama is great for people that like Alabama. It's inland and even if one drove to the Gulf Coast, the water is brown and murky. It's hot and humid in the summer with huge bugs. It's not West Coast culture which some people from the West Coast will definitely care about. Alabama is ranked poorly in a number of categories including schools. That's not to say I wouldn't encourage anyone from moving to Alabama. We are extremely full here and growing by the minute. If 500 people wanted to leave Seattle and move to Alabama I would think that is great. I just don't see a lot of people wanting to leave beautiful Puget Sound and living between the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges to sweat in Huntsville but Alabama is a lot cheaper.

[DonaldD]

I agree, Alabama is hot and humid in the mid summer AND there is no comparison with the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains to the Cascade Mountains but the taxes are definitely lower and with the low cost of living, low traffic, great jobs and housing market makes it appealing. We do have mild winters and I think we have a lot more sunshine than Seattle. The biggest plus for me is I can get a 4 bedroom 3 bath 3000 SQFT house for under 300K.

No, Huntsville can't duplicate the things to do in Seattle but it offers a lot for a mid-size city. http://www.huntsvillescoop.com/thingstodo.html

As for schools you can't compare Huntsville with the rest of Alabama. According to the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, education is a major economic driver and workforce development tool in the city.

City of Huntsville and Madison City school systems have integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into the curriculum beginning in kindergarten; children learn computer programming, advanced manufacturing, 3D gaming and research and development in their classes and schoolwork.

By the time they reach the 10th grade, many students are taking college-level classes that permit them to enter institutions of higher learning as sophomores and juniors.

City of Huntsville schools have an 88 percent graduation rate. Nearby Madison City schools have a 97 percent graduation rate, and Madison County schools have a 93 percent graduation rate.

Madison City schools boast average ACT scores of 23.5 (vs. the national average of 20.8); 60 percent of graduates received college scholarships averaging over $38,000 each; and 92 percent of graduates pursue post-secondary education.

[homesinseattle]

Huntsville zip code 35896 – an area around Oakwood College – is the most liberal place in Alabama. There's a 92 percent probability someone living there is a Democrat. Huntsville as a whole is pretty “blue”, might be useful info to a relocating Northwesterner.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by DonaldD

I agree, Alabama is hot and humid in the mid summer AND there is no comparison with the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains to the Cascade Mountains but the taxes are definitely lower and with the low cost of living, low traffic, great jobs and housing market makes it appealing. We do have mild winters and I think we have a lot more sunshine than Seattle. The biggest plus for me is I can get a 4 bedroom 3 bath 3000 SQFT house for under 300K.

No, Huntsville can't duplicate the things to do in Seattle but it offers a lot for a mid-size city. http://www.huntsvillescoop.com/thingstodo.html

As for schools you can't compare Huntsville with the rest of Alabama. According to the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, education is a major economic driver and workforce development tool in the city.

City of Huntsville and Madison City school systems have integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into the curriculum beginning in kindergarten; children learn computer programming, advanced manufacturing, 3D gaming and research and development in their classes and schoolwork.

By the time they reach the 10th grade, many students are taking college-level classes that permit them to enter institutions of higher learning as sophomores and juniors.

City of Huntsville schools have an 88 percent graduation rate. Nearby Madison City schools have a 97 percent graduation rate, and Madison County schools have a 93 percent graduation rate.

Madison City schools boast average ACT scores of 23.5 (vs. the national average of 20.8); 60 percent of graduates received college scholarships averaging over $38,000 each; and 92 percent of graduates pursue post-secondary education.

Hear that Seattle? Huntsville, Alabama is waiting. Cheaper and the schools are apparently the best in Alabama. While the tax burden in Washington is ranked #32 in the country, Alabama is ranked #42 so lower taxes. What a deal.
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-wit...-burden/20494/

[Wanderlust19]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Alabama is great for people that like Alabama. It's inland and even if one drove to the Gulf Coast, the water is brown and murky. It's hot and humid in the summer with huge bugs. It's not West Coast culture which some people from the West Coast will definitely care about. Alabama is ranked poorly in a number of categories including schools. That's not to say I wouldn't encourage anyone from moving to Alabama. We are extremely full here and growing by the minute. If 500 people wanted to leave Seattle and move to Alabama I would think that is great. I just don't see a lot of people wanting to leave beautiful Puget Sound and living between the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges to sweat in Huntsville but Alabama is a lot cheaper.

What beaches are you going to? Gulf Shores, West Beach, Orange Beach and Perdido/the pass are clear water with white sands. Granted it’s a poorer state, and summers can be quite humid, but it’s not all that bad.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by Wanderlust19

What beaches are you going to? Gulf Shores, West Beach, Orange Beach and Perdido/the pass are clear water with white sands. Granted it’s a poorer state, and summers can be quite humid, but it’s not all that bad.

I've been to Biloxi and was shocked by the brown murky water. That said, if Alabama's beaches are nicer, that is great, yet another reason for people to move there. I encourage people to consider moving to Alabama and there's probably not a single Seattle metro driver that wouldn't like to see fewer people on our highways.

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_ro...641038260.html

[eugene_b]

I cannot speak for the entire PNW of course but for us it would be - climate, views, things to do and political leanings. Generally speaking people at Blue Origin likely have good resumes and can afford to be picky about the place where they live. Or to put it another way - if my company was relocating to Alabama, choice between moving to Alabama and moving to a new company would be a trivial one. Cheaper houses are great and all but I don't think they are cheaper per se, in my opinion it's more of "you get what you pay for" sort of deal.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by eugene_b

I cannot speak for the entire PNW of course but for us it would be - climate, views, things to do and political leanings. Generally speaking people at Blue Origin likely have good resumes and can afford to be picky about the place where they live. Or to put it another way - if my company was relocating to Alabama, choice between moving to Alabama and moving to a new company would be a trivial one. Cheaper houses are great and all but I don't think they are cheaper per se, in my opinion it's more of "you get what you pay for" sort of deal.

I wouldn't live there but there are also some really cool caves and waterfalls close to Huntsville. With NASA Marshall Space Center being there and there being appropriate talent and lower price of living, I can see that it makes sense.

[eugene_b]

Yeah, I don't think that Alabama is "why would anyone want to live there" kind of place. It definitely has some appeal and I can see why. But at the same time, if that rumor is correct and no Blue Origin employee wants to move from here to there, I can also see why and that doesn't come as a surprise to me either.