to the beach, affordable living, and a vibrant cultural scene, moving to Alabama might be the best thing you’ll ever do. But ultra-hot summers, high crime rates, and a poor K-12 public education system may deter you from taking the plunge.

Life in the Heart of Dixie can be a dream come true for some: delicious barbeque, low housing costs, and the shimmering shores of the Gulf Coast make Alabama something of a paradise for the right person. But, if you can’t stand hot summers and are afflicted with katsaridaphobia (a crippling fear of cockroaches), Alabama may not be the state for you. In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into twelve major pros and cons of living in Alabama to help you better plan your next move.

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Pro: The living is cheap

If you’re weary of paying what feels like a fortune for everything, from home prices to gasoline to a loaf of bread at the supermarket, a move to Alabama may be just what the doctor ordered. Alabama enjoys a low cost of living index of 84.1, compared to the national average of 100. This means that Alabama is nearly 20% more affordable than the other 49 states.

Data from MIT’s

Living Wage Calculator

suggests that a single person needs to earn only $33,094 to live a comfortable life in Alabama. And, with the data from the U.S. Census suggesting that the median household income is $54,943, there are many who aren’t just living but living well in the Heart of Dixie.

Buying a home in Alabama

is also an attainable goal for many families. According to Zillow, the average home value in Alabama currently sits at $216,108. Although that’s a 14.6% increase from last year, that’s still a good amount below the current U.S. average home value of $348,079. And these aren’t shoddily thrown-together model homes we’re talking about here: home buyers in Alabama can score gorgeous old plantation-style and Craftsman-style homes for a fraction of what a comparable older home would cost you on the East Coast.

And, with rent prices on the low, you’ll save up for your home’s down payment in a jiffy (if home ownership is your ultimate goal, of course). You can rent a one-bedroom—not a studio!—in Alabama for an average of $997 per month. Naturally, like any state, rent prices increase closer to major cities like Birmingham, but they’re still low nationally speaking.

Heck, Alabama is even cheap for car owners! As of December 2022, Alabamians enjoy gas prices that are about $.30 cheaper per gallon than the national average. Plus, the average

Alabama car insurance cost

is relatively affordable compared to the rest of the country.

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Pro: You won’t find another state as passionate about college football

We’d be remiss to leave out college football in an article about the great things about living in Alabama. Alabama is the holy land of college football, full stop. On an important game day, like the Iron Bowl game between longtime rivals University of Alabama and Auburn, businesses will close and everyone moves their schedule around the big game. Yes, it’s really that big of a deal.

If you want to make friends in Alabama—or enemies, depending on where you live—just shout out “Roll Tide!” and you’ll do just fine. Even if you’re a fan of watching a couple of guys throw around the old pigskin, the sense of camaraderie and spirit around a big game is something even the least sporty among us can enjoy.

Con: Be prepared for hot, swampy summers

If you don’t like the heat, you won’t like living in Alabama. Alabama’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, and during summer months, you’ll really see the state live up to it. Temperatures can easily crack three digits in June, July, and August (and average around 90°F), and humidity levels can climb to 85%.

Montgomery and Tuscaloosa are especially sticky in the summer, and if you live there, you’ll need to be prepared for severe summer thunderstorms and even the occasional hurricane.

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Pro: Premiere access to the Gulf Coast

Sure, Alabama gets hot, but luckily you can escape to the beach to cool off! Alabama is home to 60 miles of stunning Gulf Coast—so stunning that over 20 million tourists make it their beach destination of choice between the months of May through October.

Orange Beach, Dauphin Island Park, and West Beach all get pretty crowded during the summertime, so be sure to plan your getaway on the earlier side. Locals have the advantage of going on a warm spring day whenever they’d like!

Con: Higher than average property and violent crime rates

This one is a bitter pill, so let’s just rip the band-aid off: rates for both violent and property crimes in Alabama are higher than the national average. In 2021, the U.S. averaged 4 violent crimes per 1,000 people. Alabama’s violent crime numbers were higher—4.5 incidents of violent crime per 1,000 people. Property crimes were on the high side as well—21.4 per 1,000 people compared to a nationwide average of 19.6 per 1,000.

There’s some hope, though. From 2020 to 2021, the violent and property crime rates decreased. To be precise, violent crime numbers fell from 5.1 incidents per 1,000 people to 4.5 per 1,000; and property crimes dropped from 26.2 per 1,000 to 21.4.

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Con: Poor K-12 public education system…

Alabama’s public school system could certainly use some improvements. In a 2019 report from U.S. News and World Report, the Alabama school systems ranked dead last out of the 50 states. More recently, they’ve climbed the ranks a little bit to 42nd, but that’s about as far as the good news gets. Alabama students’ standardized testing scores were downright abysmal, with the state’s students coming in last for math scores.

Pro: …but there’s a high number of accredited public universities

Higher education in Alabama is a completely different story. The state is home to several superb public universities such as the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the University of Alabama at Huntsville, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

And it’s not just Alabama residents who are tuned in to how great their schools are—their reputation is known throughout the country and across the globe. For example, in the recent 2022 to 2023 class of freshmen at the University of Alabama, only 38% of students were from Alabama. The Capstone attracts students from all 50 states in addition to 88 foreign countries!

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Pro: The music never stops

Obviously, you can’t mention the word Alabama without the words “Sweet Home” also coming to mind. Alabama has rich musical roots, from country to bluegrass and even R&B, and there’s still very much a thriving music scene to be found throughout the Yellowhammer State.

Music superstars like Lionel Richie, Nat King Cole, Alabama Shakes, Jimmy Buffett, Hank Williams, and Emmylou Harris have all called Alabama their sweet home!

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Pro: You can eat and drink your heart out

There’s just something else about Southern cooking—especially in Alabama. The hot sauce is hot, the grits are creamy, and you can gobble up surf and turf to your heart’s delight. There’s an unspoken rule in Alabama: if you can eat it, you can also barbeque it or fry it…or sometimes both.

If you’re a beer person, you can keep your weekends busy by visiting the 30+ craft breweries throughout the state as well. Just make sure you’ve got a designated driver before you plan your stops!

Con: Statewide infrastructure has some room for improvement

Like its public school systems, Alabama’s infrastructure is also a little lackluster. In a 2022 report, the American Society of Civil Engineers awarded Alabama an overall infrastructure grade of C-, and a C- in both roads and public transit categories. They cited congestion as a major issue, particularly in Huntsville, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile. You can read through their entire report

here

Pro: It’s a place with a rich, albeit complicated, history

If living somewhere with a rich, textured history is important to you, you won't find a place with a more distinctly American history than Alabama. Alabama has a troubled past, but it’s not one that residents try to sweep under the rug or try to shy away from. Alabama is the birthplace of the Confederate States of America, but it’s also where Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat and where Martin Luther King Jr. began speaking on racial inequalities.

And, a little-known fact to wow your friends at your next round of pub trivia: New Orleans may be famous for Mardi Gras, but the festival actually got its start in none other than Mobile, Alabama!

Con: the roaches reign supreme

Just like college football, the

roaches are an integral part of the fabric of Alabama life

. And these aren’t just your average creepy crawlies—the ‘Bama roaches can reach up to three inches in length and there are over 30 species native to the state. Oh, and we should mention, some of them can even fly.

Cockroaches love the warm, moist Alabama summers, which is when they generally tend to rear their heads. If you spot one of these critters in your home or apartment, don’t delay getting it taken care of, as cockroaches can multiply quickly and quickly turn a nuisance into a full-blown infestation.

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Pro: Low state taxes

This is a huge point in the pro column: statewide tax in Alabama is just 4%. Local sales tax in Alabama is also pretty low with an average rate of 5.24%. Additionally, property taxes are among the lowest in the nation. The median property tax rate in Alabama is 3.33%, while the nationwide median is more than tripled at 10.35%.

Alabama also uses a graduated income tax system, with workers paying between 2% and 5% based on how much they make.

Pro: Low unemployment rates

Alabama is the only state with the natural resources available to produce both iron and steel, which creates many blue-collar manufacturing jobs. As a result, the unemployment rate is exceptionally low. As of October 2022, the unemployment rate was just 2.7%.

Is Alabama a good state to live in?

As a whole, many people find happiness in Alabama and consider it a great place to live. It’s especially attractive to those looking for:

Low housings costs

A vibrant food, drink, and music scene

Access to beaches

But, if oppressively hot summers, poor public schools, and high crime rates are a concern for you, then living in Alabama may not be the best option for you and your family.

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FAQs

What are winters like in Alabama?

If you can survive the face-meltingly hot summers, you’ll be in for a treat in the wintertime. Alabama winters are very mild, and the temperature only dips below freezing about 35 days per year. Generally, in the winter months, the weather is sunny and temperatures are in the 60s during the day and 30s at night.

Is Alabama racially diverse?

As of 2021, 65.1% of Alabamians identified as white, 25.9% as African American, 4.7% as Hispanic or Latino, and 1.4% as Asian.

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