You're thinking of moving to Alabama, but you're not sure you have actually completely mulled-over all the super-important details prior to showing up at your decision. Well, possibly southern-bound buddy, you have actually come to the best location - we have actually assembled 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 desiring 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 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 tasty soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting events. Read on to discover why you might simply make Alabama your next move.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census data, about 4.875 million people presently live in the Cotton State. Get this - 55% of the people overall in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Research Study.
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 couple of, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers include pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law orthodontist, dental practitioner and judge, states bizjournals.com.
The current unemployment rate is just 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Stats, so chances are respectable for finding work upon your move. This number has likewise been on a great, steady decline because 2010, when it was a much-higher 11.9%. The federal minimum wage is the exact same as the nationwide average, nevertheless, at $7.25/ hour, mentions minimum-wage. org.
Don't forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight. If you've got a love for all-things aeronautical, this could extremely well be the brand-new house of your dreams.
Real estate
You're most likely going to desire a location to live after you move (we're simply thinking), so what's the possibility of discovering a brand-new place you'll love (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com mentions that the typical worth of houses presently on the marketplace is $128,900, with a typical listing cost of $190,000. The mean 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 most houses currently available were integrated in the years 2000-2010. Not only are odds great for you to discover an economical place to live, however you'll likewise be looking at newish residential or commercial properties, too.
That being said, there's not much in the method of brand-new building popping up these days, according to zillow.com. A little is taking place in main Alabama, around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a little bit in the northern end of the state, in and around Huntsville.
If cheaper real estate, particularly around the state's hot-spots, attract you, you may just desire to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When moving to a new location, you might be curious about individuals there. Will they become your finest pals, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and gaze out of a slit in your blinds in total paranoia?
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 deceptive insults. The expression "bless your heart" is not implied warmly, but rather sardonically - and if you hear it, chances are good that once you have actually left, you'll be discussed.
Don't let that dissuade you, though. Locals stress that the primary vibe 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 lots of food. They might describe you as a Yankee if you're from the North, but this they in fact do out of (mocking) love.
You'll find yourself changing your vocabulary and pronunciations after a move to Alabama. Don't be the loser who sticks out like an aching thumb simply because you're partial to your consonants.
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a popular event took place on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks bravely refused to quit her seat on the bus to a white man. Today, to honor this regional female's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, drawing in great deals of locals and travelers alike.
Individuals of the Cotton State adore BBQ - 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 entered into 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. When they hear that popular opening riff, even Alabamians who secretly dislike the tune will begin to boogie. 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 abundant and heavy, that locals 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 currently halfway out the door, baggage in hand, all set to make your relocate to the Heart of Dixie, but cool your jets for a minute. Prior to you go racing off like you're a driver at Talladega Superspeedway, inspect out this list we have actually compiled of some of the state's piece de resistances.
Here just a few of the state's can't- miss out on sights and activities:
U.S. Space & Rocket Center: Found in Huntsville, this museum includes access to the historic Shuttle Park and Rocket Park and showcases special artifacts from the country's space expedition. It's thought about to be the world's largest space museum, and lays out the history of the U.S. area program. It's also home to the yearly, highly expected Area Camp program including the Aviation Challenge, in which trainees go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's highest cast iron statue stands an outstanding 56 feet tall. website Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and create, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel industry - and he's kind of a big offer. His 100th birthday was a substantial celebration that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 people.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Found in Woodville, this park uses cave tours, camping sites, hiking and backpacking. It has the widest entrance of any industrial cavern in the world, and includes a sparkly Gems Mine with a gem mining experience available to all ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "most significant and baddest" track, it's situated in Lincoln and includes an extremely prepared for annual NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race goes for 188 laps, covering just over 500 miles. Now that's a lot of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Street: Found in Summerdale, this overload sanctuary has a raised boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and various kinds 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.
Benefits and drawbacks of Living in the Heart of Dixie
Before you perfect your BBQ recipe and run to see the alligators and the world's highest Vulcan, we believed it may be worth taking into factor to consider a short-and-sweet list of a few pros and cons of moving to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's obvious that realty in the Cotton State is quite low-cost, and taxes are quite low. We believe that's simply one of the big reasons that 55% of relocators nationwide in 2017 chose this as their new home.
Nature + all four seasons: The terrain of Alabama is widely-varied, including forests, mountains and beaches. There are plenty of activities for all different breeds 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 summers and springtime torrential downpours.
Music: Because of its location, the Yellowhammer State draws lots of huge music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's biggest yearly music occasion. Huge names in all categories - 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 whopping 28 different food festivals every year.
Distance to significant cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime location lends itself to many chances to see all type of festivals, concerts, museums, state parks, going shopping destinations and more. Did you actually believe you 'd be bored here?
Humidity: Make that winter humidity. While the humidity in the summer is undeniably bad, it's the winter season that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the additional wetness causes cold temperatures to feel absolutely freezing. Residents state that it's not unusual for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees. It might not be long prior to you're miserable here if you're not into feeling the extremes in every season.
Substance abuse: The more backwoods of the state have real issues with hardship, 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).
Extreme storms: While experiencing all four seasons can be argued as an excellent thing, it likewise means that there's chance for all kinds of rainy weather condition - and this state sees some of the most serious. For beginners, it's one of the most active twister states.
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 in existence in the state you're thinking about 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 railroad track is punishable by death. They desire to keep their railroads devoid of livestock, and they're really severe about it.
It's illegal to impersonate a priest. Genuine. So stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comical efforts towards new product - you'll thank us later.
It's unlawful to use a fake moustache in church due to the fact that it could trigger laughter. Religious beliefs is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's prohibited to wear a mask in public. Male, so what are we supposed to do on Halloween?
It's prohibited to play dominoes on Sunday. It disrupts the day off. Duh. You know how heated those dominoes matches can get!
Gotten ready 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 irreversible relocation. Naturally, we can't lie and say that we're able to provide you absolutely all the essential information that could affect your decision (we 'd be here for days), however it's our hope that we have actually provided you a good launching pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it's up to you to choose (after potentially doing some additional research study) if you can visualize yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the impressive and not-at-all challenging rocket scientists, the quick 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.
Excellent luck - and don't forget to remember "Sweet Home Alabama."