Huntsville, AL or Houston, TX

[davidt1]

I will soon choose either Huntsville or Houston to move to. I have not been to them. Here are some facts I find on these cities:

Huntsville: very low cost of living; low housing price; extremely low property tax (.5%); jobs are scarce; low crimes; little traffic congestion; hot but short summer; low state income tax

Houston: relatively low cost of living; low housing price; very high property tax (over 3%); jobs are plentiful; high crime rates; heavy traffic congestion; no state income tax; long and brutally hot summer

I make only 30K a year. Which city would you move to? Thanks for your feedback.

[bsrsharma]

If you have reasonable confidence in getting jobs, Huntsville seems a better bet.

[Borat]

Hunstville, AL. No comparison.

[stansd]

I have a friend who is a high up in the Navy. They just bought a house in Huntsville several years before he will actually wind up there because there is some forthcoming military activity that he thinks will really drive the local economy.

Might be worth figuring out if that’s true…if it is, it may be a great place to move for a guy like you.

Stan

[Ex-SD]

Why does it have to be Houston or Huntsville?
Since you’re considering Huntsville, there are lots of nice, affordable communities in other cities in the south that offer more opportunities and are more desirable.

[Anonymous]

I own properties in Huntsville. It is a nice area with growth. The BRAC will start in 2010. Housing is still appreciating there because of high tech. companies moving there to for military contracts. I would pick Huntsville, AL. IT is a growing and educated city.

[davidt1]

Thanks for the feedbacks folks. I work for a big company with branches all over the country. Currently they have openings in Houston, but not in Huntsville. I figure since I make so little, it would be better for me to live in Huntsville because of the low property tax and from what I hear, low utility and insurance cost as well. But I would have to quit, move to Huntsville and reapply there later, or get a different job and start all over. BTW, I will be able pay off the house when I buy. Also, Huntsville appeals to me is the more rural life there. An educated population there means I won’t have to compete with many people for the kind of jobs I do. I would like to hear more from you. Thanks.

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