So, you’re curious about living in Alabama? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Alabama.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Alabama matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Alabama is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Alabama
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Alabama is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Alabama:
- Affordable cost of living.
- Variety in scenery and climate across the state.
- Plenty of outdoor activities to choose from, such as hiking or fishing.
- You can’t beat the Southern hospitality of Alabamians!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Alabama:
- It can get hot and muggy.
- The prices for utilities tend to be a little more expensive than the national average.
- It’s a dry state so you won’t find any stores with liquor for sale (aside from state-run liquor stores). You’ll need to head to another state if you want to buy your liquor on Sundays!
- Alabama also has high rates for workplace injuries and fatalities on construction sites due to its heavy reliance on mining.
Read More: Is Alabama a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Alabama
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Alabama? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Alabama!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Alabama.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Alabama:
- Birmingham
- Huntsville
- Madison
- Mobile
- Montgomery
- Tuscaloosa
- Valley
Read More: Best Places to Live in Alabama
Checklist for Moving to Alabama
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Alabama. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Alabama.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Alabama:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting an Alabama driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Alabama
- Getting an Alabama car insurance policy.
- Signing up for health insurance in Alabama and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Alabama.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Alabama and your previous home state.
Visit your Alabama Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Alabama Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Alabama.
Things to Know About Living in Alabama
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Alabama, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Alabama
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Alabama ranks 4th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 88.1, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Alabama scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 98
- Housing: 69.2
- Utilities: 100.7
- Transportation: 92.8
- Health: 91.4
- Miscellaneous: 91.4
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Alabama
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Alabama from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Alabama’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4.00%, with an average local rate of 5.22% (the highest local sales tax rate is 7.5%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 9.22%.
Check with the Alabama tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Alabama
If you own or plan to own real estate in Alabama, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Alabama ranks 2nd (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.41%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Alabama tax office for the most current tax rates.
Alabama’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Alabama is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Alabama ranks 27th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Finance and insurance
- Wholesale trade
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Utilities
The top employer in Alabama is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Alabama
Our Alabama moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Alabama is the USS Alabama battleship.
National Monuments that you can find in Alabama include:
- Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
- Freedom Riders National Monument
- Russell Cave National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Alabama
Alabama is the 22nd state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Tennessee, to its south is Florida, to its east is [Georgia, and to its west is Mississippi.
What is the capital of Alabama?
The capital of Alabama is Montgomery.
Montgomery is located in Montgomery County with a population of 198,218.
What is the population of Alabama?
The population of Alabama based on 2020 US Census data is 5,024,279.
What is the largest city in Alabama?
The largest city in Alabama is Huntsville.
Huntsville has a population of 215,006, and it is located in Madison County.
What is the size of Alabama?
Alabama is 52,420 square miles, making it the 30th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Alabama?
The state motto of Alabama is: Audemus jura nostra defendere
What is the state bird of Alabama?
The state bird of Alabama is the Yellowhammer (Northern flicker).
What is the state flower of Alabama?
The state flower of Alabama is the Camellia.
What is the state tree of Alabama?
The state tree of Alabama is the Longleaf Pine.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Alabama?
The minimum wage in Alabama is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Alabama?
The median annual household salary in Alabama is $49,861.