The Cost of Living Diaries: Prattville, AL

A local resident shares what it’s like to live and work in the region.

By Amy Antonation on June 26, 2023

Dianna Paulk

Joe Mathis lived all over the United States during his career as an Air Force pilot, but when it came time to plant roots for good, there was only one place he and his family were interested in living: Prattville, Alabama.

A young Mathis was stationed at Montgomery’s Maxwell Air Force Base in the early 1970s, and it was then that he first heard about Prattville. With its great schools and small-town atmosphere, the city, which is just a few miles down the road from Montgomery, was already touted as great place to raise a family.

“My wife and I just fell in love with the town and said if we ever come back here, that’s where we’re going to live,” Mathis says.

It was in 1985 that Mathis, his wife and two teenage children finally made it their permanent home. Here’s what he has to say about living in the city.

How would you describe Prattville and its residents?

Prattville is one of those communities that if you want to become a part of it, you can. All you have to do is get out there and say, “I want to give back a little.” People respond to good programs, and we’ve been fortunate to be involved in some exceptional programs. If it’s good, get out of the way, people are coming to help.

What’s the most memorable program you’ve ever been involved in?

Back in 2007, a friend of mine said, “Joe, I want to talk to you about Honor Flight (a nonprofit organization that flies U.S. military veterans to Washington, D.C., at no cost to visit their war memorial.)” Long story short, we could not believe the response. Over the next three years, we sent 448 veterans to Washington on five flights. We never had a fundraiser; we never asked for a dime; and we received $360,000 in donations.

What’s the cost of living like in Prattville?

I started my married life living in California, and with the cost of living, there was no way you could survive. Property taxes in Alabama are what I consider extremely low compared to where we’ve lived in Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia, California and Kansas. In one state, we were on a quarter acre, and I paid more taxes on that house than I pay on the house that I live in now that’s on 4 acres. It’s a good place to live with good access to the interstate, and you can really govern your cost of living. I used to laugh and say one of the biggest raises I got was moving to Prattville!

What’s your favorite restaurant, and how much would dinner for two cost?

We enjoy a couple steakhouses occasionally, [and at] $16 or $17 per plate, it’s not too bad. One of our favorite places we’ve enjoyed for years is the Catfish House. It’s about $12 or $13 per plate for the senior plate. It’s been around for a long time, and people really enjoy it.