Locals Know.

Welcome to moveinlikealocal.com!

Moving to a new city comes with a million questions—some that Google can answer, and some you’d only know if you lived there. Move In Like a Local is your insider guide to getting to know Huntsville, Alabama—not just the stats, but the soul of the city.

Sure, Huntsville is the Rocket City, full of opportunity and innovation. But what’s it really like to live here? What’s it like to live in Alabama—or the South? Where do people actually go on weekends? What neighborhoods feel like home? Locals know—and now, you can too.

This site is full of personal insights, helpful resources, and curated links to help you get your bearings and settle in with confidence. We include links to trusted outside sources (because no one knows everything), plus map links like this: [M] to help you explore the area more deeply.

Whether you're just thinking about moving or already unloading the moving truck, we’re here to help you move in like a local.

The Huntsville metropolitan area covers about 1,382 square miles and had a population of roughly 527,000 in 2023, up from 491,723 in 2020, showing steady growth. The larger Huntsville–Decatur–Albertville combined statistical area spans about 4,710 square miles with a population of approximately 853,000. Huntsville stands out for its education levels—about 40% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, nearly double the state average, with strong concentrations in science, engineering, and technology fields that support the region’s role as a hub for aerospace, defense, and research.

When Huntsville was first incorporated in 1811, it carried the name Twickenham, chosen to honor the English hometown of one of its early settlers. The name didn’t last long—by 1812 the town was renamed Huntsville—but Twickenham still lives on as the name of the city’s most famous historic district. The Twickenham Historic District features the largest collection of antebellum homes in Alabama, with tree-lined streets and preserved architecture that offer a glimpse into the city’s early 19th-century past.

You may hear the area being referred to as “the Tennessee Valley.” IT is because the Tennessee River flows all the way across the northernmost part of the state, meeting Huntsville about midway.

Redstone ArsenAL is the name of the Army Base attached to Huntsville that is also home to the headquarters of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, Aviation and Missile Command, Space and Missile Defense Command, Missile Defense Agency, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the ATF, and the FBI’s “second headquarters.”

Being new to the area will make you fit right in. Since NASA was born here so many years ago, Huntsville has been a melting pot of people from all over the country and the world. It started when Werner Von Braun and his team of German rocket scientists made Huntsville their home after World War II.

Huntsville’s reputation as Rocket City goes far beyond space exploration. Along with aerospace and defense, the city is a hub for advanced technologies like satellite development, geospatial mapping, cyber security, and missile defense systems. Many of these industries operate quietly but play a vital role in national security and global innovation, making Huntsville one of the most diverse and forward-thinking technology centers in the country.

Huntsville is located within a geological area called “TAG.” there are over 240 mapped caves within its city limits and it is home to the National Speleological Society headquarters. bEFORE hUNTSVILLE WAS tHE rOCKET cITY, IT WAS KNOWN AS “cAVE cITY” AND “tHE wATERCRESS cAPITAL OF THE wORLD.”

Huntsville is set in the foothills of the Appalachains. With 132,000 miles of rivers and streams, a disproportionate share of the fresh water resources in the continental U.S. flow through or originate in Alabama. Most of the major rivers contain one or more hydroelectric dams, creating numerous RESERVOIRS for recreation. Seven of these lakes are within a two-hour drive.

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Thinking about moving to Huntsville, Alabama? Known as Rocket City, Huntsville combines affordable living with a strong job market, top-ranked schools, and endless things to do. The metro area is home to more than 527,000 residents and continues to grow, thanks to career opportunities in aerospace, defense, technology, and research. Families and newcomers alike enjoy Huntsville’s balance of city life and outdoor beauty, with scenic parks, hiking trails, and events like the Panoply Arts Festival and the Alabama Jubilee Balloon Festival. From exploring the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to walking the Twickenham Historic District, Huntsville offers a unique mix of history, culture, and southern charm. Whether you’re relocating for work, school, or family, Move In Like a Local is here to help you discover why Huntsville is one of the best places to live in the Southeast.