9 Best Places to Live in Huntsville, AL

So you’re interested in living in what US News and World Report calls the “Best Place to Live” in America. The Huntsville metro clearly delivers a high-quality life or it wouldn’t attract all this attention. It ranks highly because it mixes overall affordability with access to all we expect from living in a city. You can enjoy summer festivals, high-quality dining, excellent school systems, and a thriving economy and still make the most of your income while living in Huntsville.

If you’re unfamiliar living in Alabama or the Huntsville area, how do you decide where the best neighborhoods to live are in the best place to live? It’s a valid question, but we are here to help you. We’ve researched Huntsville and the surrounding metro to find some of the most popular places people want to live. Start your home search with some of these top communities.

Downtown

Living downtown might sound appealing if you like to be in the heart of the action. Downtown living provides a walkable work, live, play kind of lifestyle. Sitting right beside the downtown core are Five Points, Twickenham, and Blossomwood neighborhoods, which also sit at the bottom of Monte Sano mountain.

You will be impressed by the many beautiful parks in the downtown area. Residents take advantage of the green spaces, children’s fountains, and neighborhood pools in the summer. One of the favorites is Big Spring Park which has a fishing lake and playground for the kids. Several other large parks include the quiet California Park and the interesting Maple Hill Park with its rocky hillside.

Downtown living also places you near attractions like the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Lowe Mills ARTS and Entertainment studio, the Von Braun, Civic Center, and favorite downtown restaurants.

This is the more historic area in town, so you’ll find beautiful, well-established homes that date back to the early 1900s. Blossomwood is notable for its high walkability and updated yet individualized homes. Downtown had 24 homes for sale at a median list price of $565,000 in February 2023.

Twickenham Historic District

Back in 1914, the Town of Twickenham was established. That sleepy town evolved into today’s Huntsville, but this historic district remains lovingly preserved. The homes showcase the styles of the time: Federal, Classical, and Italianate.

If you want to live in a place with character, Twickenham (and its neighboring Old Town and Five Points, for that matter) has it. The area’s distinct street signs have a tree, so you know when you’re close to home.

At the one end is Twickenham Square, a bustling retail district with prime dining and shopping options. You can walk to attractions like EarlyWorks Children’s Museum or the Huntsville Museum of Art. Halsey Park is on the western end, and California Street Park is on the southern end.

Twickenham had one home for sale in February 2023 at $325,000.

Jones Valley

Try Jones Valley south of downtown and between Monte Sano and Green Mountain for breathtaking views. The name comes from the Jones Family Farm, which you’ll see as you cross the mountain. While the farm’s size has shrunk from its original acreage, it remains in business as a working urban farm.

This is truly one of the most beautiful areas to live in the Huntsville area. Its central location helps you stay connected to your daily amenities, along with shopping and outdoor recreation.

In Jones Valley, you live near one of Alabama’s best golf courses, The Ledges, an award-winning course that opened in 2000. This private country club, elevated at 1,582 feet, has 18 holes, a short game practice area, and a driving range. Facilities include private men’s and ladies’ lounges, two bars, dining rooms, a ballroom, meeting rooms, and social events.

Even though it feels out of town, you have plenty of access to shopping, dining, and entertainment thanks to Valley Bend, an expansive retail center. There’s an IMAX 3D Cinema, family favorites like Cold Stone and Mellow Mushroom, salons, and spas.

South Huntsville

Lying at the bottom of many of the area’s mountains, South Huntsville is another beautiful place to live in the city that also provides convenient access to the outdoors.

Families enjoy the many playgrounds, parks, and greenspaces spread throughout. Bicycle miles of paved trails on the Aldridge Creek Greenway or Ditto Landing. Southside Park even has a dog park for your four-footed pals. Hike scenic Green Mountain or play a round at the Valley Hill Country Club.

Don’t think your necessities are neglected. South Huntsville may feel more laidback and a world apart from downtown, but you still have coffee shops, pizzerias, and cafes. There are specialty retailers to fit your needs. Fitness includes Pilates and CrossFit.

Homes in the southeast quadrant, which includes Jones Valley, had a median list price of $360,000 for 233 listings in February 2023. The styles range from mid-century-styled homes on large lots to new construction master-planned neighborhoods.

Hampton Cove

This popular master-planned community of 2,000+ homes in the Monte Sano valley is highly sought after because of its generous lot sizes, easy commute into Huntsville, and beautiful scenery. Monte Sano Mountain rises 1,600 in the background, as do the other Appalachian foothills.

One highlight is the three championship golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones. Each is expertly designed while paying homage to the landscape with its massive century-old oaks, water features, and old barns.

Inside the Hampton Cove community, you’ll find all you need to have a robust lifestyle. Your essential services, like medical care, veterinarians, and service providers, are nearby. Major shopping retailers provide groceries, fashion, home goods, and more. Huntsville’s entertainment and major employment areas are 15-20 minutes away.

The community HOA runs a fitness center, lighted tennis courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a city park with recreational fields. Next door is the Hays Nature Preserve, with pristine forests and access to the Flint River.

Hampton Cove development started in the late 1990s and continued through the 2000s. It breaks down into 20 different neighborhoods with home styles ranging from patio and townhomes up to 8,000 sq ft luxury homes. The Big Cove area, which included Hampton Cove’s neighborhoods, Owens Crossroads, and Eastern Shore, had 235 homes for sale at a median of $410,000 in February 2023.

Madison

This Huntsville suburb is ranked as the best place to live in Alabama by Niche.com. One of the reasons is it has one of the state’s top school systems. It’s also made lists as a top place to live on CNN Money, Family Circle, and Trulia.

Why is Madison so special, besides its top-tier school system and family-friendly vibe? This suburb is close to some of Huntsville’s top employers. Hexagon PPM, a software company, is in town, while 25 biotechnology firms, multiple manufacturing plants, and a Mazda Toyota plant increase employment opportunities and intellectual capital.

Residents live a comfortable lifestyle while still taking advantage of Huntsville’s lower cost of living. The town has ample fun activities, from a laser tag arena to a new minor-league baseball stadium.

Madison had 629 homes for sale in February 2023 at a median of $374,900.

Meridianville

Another top-rated suburb in the Huntsville area, Meridianville is an unincorporated suburban area with around 8,000 residents. It’s north of Huntsville and provides spacious lots and homes of all types. Its proximity to the expanding town means it is poised for growth.

Meridianville had 335 homes for sale at a median list price of $345,000 in February 2023.

Athens

Ranked the fourth-best place to live in Alabama, historic Athens offers a unique blend of rural charm and urban convenience. It leans on its classic southern character promising a community where you’ll feel the neighbors know each other. It’s only 35 minutes from downtown Huntsville by car.

Plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities exist, like the Swan Creek Greenway and 17 other trails for walking, biking, or horseback riding. Enjoy cultural events like rodeos, tractor shows, art shows, and live music performances. Several museums and historic homes tell the story of the area’s past notable citizens and Civil War sites.

Athens has four historic districts and modern homes and homesteads to explore. It had 696 homes for sale at a median of $338,300 in February 2023.

New Market

The quiet town of New Market outside of Huntsville was established in 1837. It was a thriving agricultural community known as the “watercress capital of the world.” While it has that small-town charm, it’s only fifteen minutes from downtown Huntsville.

One of the perks is Sharon Johnston Park, a county park with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a playground, and a twelve-acre fishing lake.

New Market has a mix of old and new properties. New subdivisions are expanding into what was once farmland. The area had 183 homes for sale at a median list price of $311,900.

Living in Huntsville, AL

When it comes to affordability and things to do, Huntsville is almost unmatched in Alabama and the nation. Take a further look at what makes living in this north Alabama city attractive to so many independent evaluators. A local real estate agent can help you explore Huntsville’s many neighborhoods and suburbs to find the right community to call home.