Waterfront view of Huntsville, Alabama

Best Places to Live in the US in 2022 Sponsored by: eXp RealtyeXp Realty

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

Huntsville, AL is the #84 Best City to Live in the USA

Huntsville, Alabama, USA park and downtown cityscape at twilight.
iStock/SeanPavone
Huntsville, AL
Quality of Life
Liv Score

602
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 51
Demographics 73
Economy 78
Education 68
Health 43
Housing 50
Infrastructure 34
Amenities 52

Why Huntsville is one of the best cities to live in

Known as “The Rocket City,” Huntsville, AL, is braced for takeoff. The economy is strong, and good-paying jobs are aplenty, with aerospace and defense as key industries. It isn’t all space exploration and rocket science here – those who relocate to this fast-growing city are welcomed with an excellent quality of life that includes a diverse mix of housing options, from downtown digs to golf course living. As one of the best places to live in the U.S., Huntsville also has minor league sports teams to cheer on (yes, the baseball team’s name is really the Rocket City Trash Pandas!), a brand-spanking-new 8,000-seat amphitheater and top-notch public schools. 

What are Huntsvilles major industries and employers?

Primary industry sectors are aerospace/defense, information technology, advanced manufacturing and bioscience. The Boeing Company, Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin provide a good deal of jobs to the region.

What are the major colleges and universities in Huntsville?

Alabama A&M University & The University Alabama – Huntsville

What is the weather like in Huntsville? 

Summers are hot and humid, and the mild winters are short and wet, but snow is super rare.

What is there to do outside in Huntsville?

Slip away to Monte Sano State Park, which is especially gorgeous throughout the fall when the leaves turn colors. In the spring, native azaleas bloom along the 20 miles of hiking trails. 

Huntsville, AL is Remote-Ready

What makes Huntsville a great place for remote workers?

The average home and rent costs are well below the national average, as is the overall cost of living in Huntsville. In addition, there are a handful of telecommuting sites and cafes for remote work, like Cafe 153, Offbeat Coffee Studio and Huntsville West, which are open 24 hours a day.

What Locals Love in Huntsville, AL

What is the best local bookstore in Huntsville?

Booklegger Used Books has a nice stash of comics in addition to its stacks of books.

How do you spend a weekend in Huntsville?

Visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, which has dozens of out-of-this-world, interactive exhibits surrounding the Apollo, Mercury and Space Shuttle spacecraft.

What can you do for free in Huntsville?

Big Spring International Park has koi fish, a pretty red bridge and cherry trees that were a gift from Japan. You can also take free yoga or workout classes in the park through the Healthy Huntsville program. 

Whats the best way to spend happy hour in Huntsville?

Grab a beer at Green Bus Brewing, which always has something new on tap!

Whats something only locals know about Huntsville?

Huntsville has a burgeoning beer scene with 10 stops along its Craft Beer Trail.

Is Huntsville, AL a good place to live?

A strong economy, affordable housing and an excellent school system make Huntsville a best place to live in Alabama.

Thinking of Moving to Huntsville?

What is the Huntsville, AL Real Estate Market Like?

The Huntsville, AL population is on the rise, and so it’s the demand for housing, which explains the red-hot conditions of the real estate market in “The Rocket City.” However, this northern Alabama community has a healthy growing inventory, resulting in a balanced market with an affordable median sale price of $281K for the homes for sale in Huntsville, AL. There’s a diverse mix of living options in the Huntsville, AL real estate market, from the lovely downtown apartment residences near the Huntsville Museum of Art to the custom-built homes in the southern golf community of Willowbrook. To learn more about this area, reach out to a local real estate agent.

Quick Facts About Huntsville, AL

Average Commute
18.34
Median Home Value
$259,278
Med. Household Income
$60,364
Total Population
221,430
Walk Score
22
Median Property Tax
$1,009

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