You're thinking of moving to Alabama, but you're not sure you have actually thoroughly mulled-over all the super-important information before getting here at your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound good friend, you've pertained to the ideal place - we've put together a handy, delicious guide that will outline some of the most crucial points for someone in your position to examine.
We don't blame you for wishing to transfer to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering 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 Arsenal. 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 ridiculously wise individuals? Plenty - from beautiful landscapes that'll have you clicking your shutter so quick your camera starts steaming, to savory soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting events. Check out on to find why you might simply make Alabama your next relocation.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census data, about 4.875 million people presently reside in the Cotton State. Get this - 55% of the people in general in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Research Study.
Well, for starters, the state has several fast-growing job fields, consisting of computer technology, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, aircraft assembly and EMT, to call a couple of, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers include pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law dental professional, judge and orthodontist, specifies bizjournals.com.
The existing joblessness rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so odds are pretty great for discovering work upon your relocation. This number has also been on a good, consistent decrease given that 2010, when it was a much-higher 11.9%. The federal base pay is the very same as the nationwide average, however, at $7.25/ hour, states minimum-wage. org.
Don't forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Area & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center. This could very well be the new home of your dreams if you've got a love for all-things aeronautical.
Housing
You're probably 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 enjoy (and have the ability to pay for) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com specifies that the mean worth of houses presently on the marketplace is $128,900, with a typical listing rate of $190,000. The mean house lease is $995/month, with one-bedroom apartment or condos balancing $824/month in Birmingham.
Residences in Alabama are primarily relatively brand-new, too - zillow.com reveals that a lot of houses currently available were built in the decade 2000-2010. So not only are odds great for you to discover a budget friendly location to live, but you'll also be looking at newish properties, too.
That being stated, there's very little in the method of new building 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 little bit in the northern end of the state, around Huntsville.
If less expensive housing, especially around the state's hot-spots, interest you, you may just want to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When transferring to a new place, you may be curious about individuals there. Will they become your buddies, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and stare out of a slit in your blinds in overall fear?
According to residents, locals can be a real variety. The consensus is that Alabamians love to chatter, are passive-aggressive, and may just deceive you with their questionable insults. The expression "bless your heart" is not implied warmly, but rather sardonically - and if you hear it, chances are great that once you have actually left, you'll be spoken about.
Do not let that dissuade you, however. 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 in fact do out of (buffooning) love.
You'll find yourself changing your vocabulary and pronunciations after a move to Alabama. Do not be the loser who sticks out like an aching thumb just due to the fact that you're partial to your consonants.
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a well-known event happened on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks fearlessly refused to give 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 tourists and residents alike.
Individuals of the Cotton State are insane about BARBEQUE - and we do suggest CRAZY. They'll combat to the death (maybe not literally) over which restaurant or regional cookout provides the best. These are not conversations to be participated in gently. Be prepared to explain, and safeguard, your stance.
Locals will CONSTANTLY rock out to "Sweet House Alabama" if it comes on the radio, and they'll crank it as much as 11. Even Alabamians who privately hate the tune will begin to boogie when they hear that famous 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 appears fitting, with a diet that heavy and rich, that locals like to observe a slower rate of life. These self-proclaimed "salt of the earth" types will make you forget your health-enthusiast ways and have you grabbing seconds. Bring extra napkins.
Must-See Alabama Fun + Activities
We understand you're already midway out the door, travel luggage in hand, ready to make your move to the Heart of Dixie, however cool your jets for a moment. Before you go racing off like you're a motorist at Talladega Superspeedway, have a look at this list we have actually compiled of some of the state's piece de resistances.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss out on sights and activities:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Located in Huntsville, this museum includes access to the historical Shuttle bus Park and Rocket Park and showcases distinct artifacts from the nation's area exploration. It's considered to be the world's biggest area museum, and describes the history of the U.S. area program. It's also home to the yearly, extremely anticipated Area Camp program including the Aviation Difficulty, in which trainees go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's highest cast iron statue stands an impressive 56 feet tall. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and create, represents website the state's roots in the iron and steel market - and he's kind of a big offer. His 100th birthday was a substantial celebration that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 individuals.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Found in Woodville, this park offers cave trips, campsites, backpacking and hiking. It has the largest entryway of any business cavern in the world, and features a sparkly Gemstone Mine with a gem mining experience offered to any ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "greatest and baddest" track, it lies in Lincoln and includes a hugely anticipated annual NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race opts for 188 laps, covering simply over 500 miles. Now that's a great deal of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Located in Summerdale, this overload sanctuary has an elevated boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and various kinds of wildlife. If you're into staring one of mankind's greatest natural predators almost right in the face, this is the location for you.
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 highest Vulcan, we thought it might be worth taking into account a short-and-sweet list of a couple of benefits and drawbacks of relocating to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's obvious that property in the Cotton State is pretty inexpensive, and taxes are quite low. We believe that's simply among the big reasons that 55% of relocators nationwide in 2017 chose this as their new home.
Nature + all 4 seasons: The surface of Alabama is widely-varied, consisting of beaches, mountains and forests. Because of this, there are plenty of activities for all different breeds of outdoorsy types. Residents likewise like to explain that they experience all 4 seasons and see weather from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, humid summertimes and spring torrential rainstorms.
Music: Since of its place, the Yellowhammer State draws check here great deals of big music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's largest annual music event. Big names in all genres - ranging from jazz to rock 'n' roll to country - make appearances here.
Food: As we've already mentioned, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a tremendous 28 various food celebrations every year. Amongst them are the Exceptional Structure Chili Cook-Off, Taste of Homewood, BARBEQUE for Building, Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-Off and BHamBurger Battle. Seriously, don't eat anything for a while before you arrive here - you'll be packing your face in no time.
Proximity to major cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime location provides itself to numerous opportunities to see all kinds of festivals, performances, 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 extra moisture triggers cold temperature levels to feel absolutely frigid. Residents state that it's not unusual for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees.
Substance abuse: The more backwoods of the state have genuine issues with poverty, homelessness and block after block of abandoned homes. With this naturally comes bothersome substance abuse, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine labs are a real battle to punish (no pun meant).
Serious storms: While experiencing all four seasons can be argued as an excellent thing, it also means that there's chance for all kinds of rainy weather - and this state sees some of the most extreme. For beginners, it's one of the most active tornado states.
Weird Laws
We 'd be doing you a significant disservice if we left without giving you a list of a few of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still in existence in the state you're considering making your next homeland. We have actually compiled a couple of that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are just a few from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railway track is punishable by death. They want to keep their railways totally free of cattle, and they're actually severe about it.
It's unlawful to impersonate a priest. For real. So stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comical efforts towards brand-new product - you'll thank us later.
It's unlawful to use a phony moustache in church because it might cause laughter. Religious beliefs is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's illegal to use a mask in public. Man, so what are we expected to do on Halloween?
It's illegal 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 good friends, there you have it - a carefully created guide to some of the primary contemplation points for long-term relocation. Obviously, we can't lie and state that we have the ability to give you definitely all the essential information that could affect your decision (we 'd be here for days), however it's our hope that we've provided you an excellent launching pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it's up to you to choose (after possibly doing some additional research study) if you can visualize yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the impressive and not-at-all intimidating rocket scientists, the rapid racecar drivers, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a genuine satisfaction compiling this guide for you, and we hope you have actually had your fill of Alabama goodies.
Good luck - and do not forget to remember "Sweet House Alabama."