You're thinking of moving to Alabama, however you're not sure you've completely mulled-over all the super-important details prior to getting here at your decision. Well, possibly southern-bound buddy, you have actually concerned the best place - we've put together a convenient, tasty guide that will lay out some of the most essential points for someone in your position to evaluate.
We do not blame you for wishing to transfer to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) thinking about that the state is home to rocket researchers - Huntsville homes both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center at the Redstone Toolbox. The U.S. Army's lead rocket engineer, Wernher von Braun, led NASA's rocketry program throughout the '60s.
What else does the Yellowhammer State have to use, besides huge advances in the area program and extremely smart individuals? Plenty - from beautiful landscapes that'll have you clicking your shutter so quick your electronic camera starts steaming, to savory soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting events. Keep reading to find why you may just make Alabama your next relocation.
Task Market
According to U.S. Census data, about 4.875 million individuals currently reside in the Cotton State. About 11,447 of those individuals moved here between 2016 and 2017. Also, get this - 55% of individuals overall in the U.S. who relocated the year 2017 relocated to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Study. Why are so many people are gathering here?
Well, for beginners, the state has several fast-growing job fields, consisting of computer system science, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, airplane assembly and Emergency Medical Technician, to call a few, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers include pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law judge, dental practitioner and orthodontist, specifies bizjournals.com.
The existing joblessness rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so chances are pretty good for finding work upon your move. The federal minimum wage is the exact same as the nationwide average, nevertheless, at $7.25/ hour, mentions minimum-wage.
Do not forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight. This might really well be the new home of your dreams if you've got a love for all-things aerial.
Real estate
You're most likely going to want a place to live after you move (we're just guessing), so what's the likelihood of finding a new place you'll love (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com states that the median value of homes currently on the market is $128,900, with an average listing price of $190,000. The median home rent is $995/month, with one-bedroom houses averaging $824/month in Birmingham.
Houses in Alabama are mainly fairly new, too - zillow.com shows that many houses currently offered were developed in the decade 2000-2010. So not only are odds great for you to find a cost effective place to live, but you'll also be looking at newish properties, too.
That being said, there's not much in the way of brand-new building and construction turning up nowadays, according to zillow.com. A little is occurring in central Alabama, in and around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a tiny bit in the northern end of the state, around Huntsville.
If less expensive housing, especially around the state's hot-spots, appeals to you, you might simply wish to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When moving to a new location, you might be curious about the people there. Will they become your buddies, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and look out of a slit in your blinds in overall fear?
According to locals, locals can be a real variety. The agreement is that Alabamians like to gossip, are passive-aggressive, and might simply deceive you with their deceptive insults. The phrase "bless your heart" is not implied warmly, but rather sardonically - and if you hear it, chances are great that once you've left, you'll be spoken about.
Do not let that discourage you, though. Locals stress that the primary ambiance of their state is one of real southern hospitality - they utilize "sir" and "ma'am" out of respect, and will offer you a warm welcome and great deals of food. They may describe you as a Yankee if you're from the North, but this they actually do out of (buffooning) love.
You'll find yourself adjusting your vocabulary and pronunciations after a relocation to Alabama. The town of Burmingham, to Alabamians, has a quiet 'g', and is pronounced "Burmin'- ham". Don't lose who protrudes like a sore thumb even if you like your consonants. In addition, Alabamians have their own catch-phrase when they're ready to do something about it: "Fixin' to."
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a popular event took place on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks fearlessly refused to offer up her seat on the bus to a white male. Today, to honor this local female's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, drawing in great deals of travelers and locals alike.
The people of the Cotton State are insane about BBQ - and we do suggest CRAZY. They'll combat to the death (maybe not literally) over which dining establishment or local cookout serves up the finest.
Locals will CONSTANTLY rock out to "Sweet House Alabama" if it begins the radio, and they'll crank it up to 11. Even Alabamians who covertly dislike the tune will start to boogie when they hear that popular opening riff. The song has actually made such an impression on the culture that it's even printed on license plates.
Alabamians pride themselves on their rich food and cultural pride. They have uncommon, supposedly lobster-tasting shrimp called "Royal Reds" from the Gulf of Mexico, fried green tomatoes, super-sweet tea (heavy on the sweet, light on the tea) and MoonPies - and they smother whatever in TABASCOĂ’ sauce.
It seems fitting, with a diet plan that heavy and abundant, that residents like to observe a slower speed of life. These self-proclaimed "salt of the earth" types will make you forget your health-enthusiast methods and have you reaching for seconds. Bring additional napkins.
Must-See Alabama Fun + Activities
We understand you're already midway out the door, luggage in hand, ready to make your relocate to the Heart of Dixie, but cool your jets for a moment. Prior to you go racing off like you're a driver at Talladega Superspeedway, check out this list we have actually compiled of some of the state's primary tourist attractions.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss activities and sights:
U.S. Space & Rocket Center: Found in Huntsville, this museum consists of access to the historic Shuttle bus Park and Rocket Park and showcases special artifacts from the country's area expedition. It's considered to be the world's biggest area museum, and describes the history of the U.S. area program. It's also house to the yearly, highly prepared for Space Camp program featuring the Air travel Challenge, in which students go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's highest cast iron statue stands an outstanding 56 feet high. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and create, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel industry - and he's type of a huge deal. His 100th birthday was a big event that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 people.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Located in Woodville, this park uses cavern tours, camping areas, hiking and backpacking. It has the widest entryway of any business collapse the world, and includes a sparkly Gemstone Mine with a gem mining experience available to any ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "most significant and baddest" track, it's situated in Lincoln and includes a hugely anticipated annual NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race chooses 188 laps, covering simply over 500 miles. Now that's a lot of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Found in Summerdale, this overload sanctuary has a raised boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and different type of wildlife. This is the location for you if you're into gazing one of mankind's greatest natural predators almost right in the face.
Pros and Cons of Living in the Heart of Dixie
Before you ideal your BARBEQUE dish and run to see the alligators and the world's tallest Vulcan, we thought it might be worth thinking about a short-and-sweet list of a couple of benefits and drawbacks of moving to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's no secret that genuine estate in the Cotton State is quite inexpensive, and taxes are quite low. We think that's simply among the huge reasons 55% of relocators nationwide in 2017 selected this as their new home.
Nature + all 4 seasons: The terrain of Alabama is widely-varied, consisting of beaches, forests and mountains. There are plenty of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types because of this. Locals also like to point out that they experience all four seasons and see weather from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, humid summertimes and springtime torrential downpours.
Music: Since of its place, the Yellowhammer State draws great deals of huge music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's biggest yearly music occasion. Big names in all genres - ranging from jazz to rock 'n' roll to country - emerge here.
Food: As we've already discussed, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. In truth, the town of Birmingham alone has a massive 28 various food celebrations every year. Among them are the Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off, Taste of Homewood, BBQ for Building, Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-Off and BHamBurger Battle. Seriously, don't eat anything for a while before you show up here - you'll be packing your face in no time.
Distance to significant cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and check here Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime location lends itself to many chances to see all sort of celebrations, shows, museums, state parks, going shopping tourist attractions and more. Did you truly think you 'd be bored here?
While the humidity in the summer season is undoubtedly bad, it's the winter season that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the additional moisture causes cold temperatures to feel definitely freezing. Locals say that it's not uncommon for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees.
Drug usage: The more rural locations of the state have genuine problems with poverty, homelessness and block after block of deserted homes. With this naturally comes troublesome drug use, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine labs are a genuine battle to break down on (no pun intended).
Extreme storms: While experiencing all 4 seasons can be argued as a good idea, it also suggests that there's chance for all type of stormy weather condition - and this state sees a few of the most severe. For beginners, it is among the most active tornado states. The spring and fall seasons bring heavy thunderstorms, and mid-year brings hurricanes. At any time of year, residents undergo durations of relatively random downpours, that can stop as rapidly as they start. Locals joke, "If you do not like the weather condition here, wait five minutes."
Strange Laws
We 'd be doing you a significant injustice if we left without giving you a list of a few of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still out there in the state you're considering making your next homeland. We have actually put together a few that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are simply a few from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railroad track is punishable by death. They wish to keep their railroads devoid of livestock, and they're really severe about it.
It's unlawful to impersonate a priest. Genuine. Stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comedic efforts towards brand-new material - you'll thank us later on.
It's unlawful to wear a phony moustache in church because it might cause laughter. (See? We told you they were super-serious about their church.) Faith is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's more info illegal to use a mask in public. Guy, so what are we expected to do on Halloween?
It's unlawful to play dominoes on Sunday. It interrupts the day of rest. Duh. You understand how heated those dominoes matches can get!
Prepared for Landing in the Heart of Dixie
Well friends, there you have it - a thoroughly designed guide to a few of the primary consideration points for permanent moving. Naturally, we can't lie and state that we're able to offer you absolutely all the crucial details that might influence your choice (we 'd be here for days), but it's our hope that we have actually given you a great launching pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it depends on you to decide (after possibly read more doing some further research study) if you can envision yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the not-at-all and excellent intimidating rocket scientists, the rapid racecar drivers, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a genuine pleasure assembling this guide for you, and we hope you have actually had your fill of Alabama goodies.
All the best - and do not forget to memorize "Sugary food House Alabama."