You’re correct depending on job though

The pay scale is low but has a nice small town feel and not too expensive place to live.
I remember my sis living in Atlanta and her property tax was over 30k a year

If I move from Madison, it will be to Ft Payne or Guntersville.

I live in hwy 25
I'm almost exactly two miles from where you turn off 25 onto the road the ironworks park is on.

Auburn is growing like crazy. You have the Asian influence because of the car parts manufacturers going up in the industry parks and Kia in Lagrange. But like mentioned you could buy land in Macon or Tallapoosa county and still be close to it

I was thinking the same. One, none of them are what I consider small towns. Not a single one. They’re thriving metropolises. They’re larger cities compared to my small towns. I couldn’t do any of them. Way too much for me. 😂

It's all perspective I guess. I'm born and raised in Bham. When I mean small city/town, I'm talking about everything except: Bham, Montgomery, Hville, and Mobile. The qualifier is that there has to be some things for the ladies to do besides going to the local Mexican place. For as much as I like Rockford, Al, there's literally nothing to do there.

I can see why you would think that as small and nice Fayette is. Hartselle and Ardmore are close to big towns but that’s about it. I like Moulton as well. Close to Decatur and Cullman but small town.

Several nice small towns in N.E. Alabama. Dogtown, Sand Rock, Spring Garden, and Arab, just to name a few.

Autaugaville has a great garden district, you can smell the flowers all over town and the shooting range is in anyones front yard you choose at any hour you like. Great for the night vision/thermal shooter. Lots of entertainment venues that really get hopping with classical rap and gangster melodies. For the gear head we have the local drag strip that opens up around midnight on hwy 14 every Saturday Night. Time trials are on Friday night. Fisherman have the state dock on Woodruff that they can slide thier boat and vehicle off into the river easily with it's 65 degree, 100 yard long ramp. We have it so good the part time police force all quit to enjoy the bright future of the town without work getting in the way. A true paradise!

I wish a lot of the new people would leave my small town. Cullman is getting to be a pain in the butt to drive around. I wish these dang Yankees would go back to where they came from!!

If I remember right, there was a really good burger place there (Chef Lee's maybe?). Too bad as I love fishing Swift Creek and have been there many times. But Prattville and Montgomery are both off the list. Don't want to be anywhere near them.

And; Rockford has, maybe; the worst Mexican restaurant I have ever tried.

Chef Lee's is gone now. He passed earlier this year after closing the restuarant with Cancer iirc. The Minnow Bucket is in it's last days as no one will buy it.

I'll throw my little hometown of Andalusia in the mix. I have lived here my entire life with the exception of a 10 year stint the wife and I did in Alabaster. I loved living there also, but I was heavy into fishing during that time frame. Andalusia is what I would consider more in line with a small town instead of a city. The beach is a reasonable drive. A lot of river float fishing available in the area and some decent restaurants. Enterprise is also close for a little more variety. Andalusia is still within the 2 hrs time frame to Alabaster as long as I-65 isn't bumper to bumper.

Unfortunately, that’s going to be the entirety of the black belt I believe. I’ve lived in Wetumpka for six years after living in Montgomery for 25. We love it here, but it’s steadily growing. You’d be hard pressed to find much rural property around Elmore county. Coosa county on the other hand is very rural and close proximity to several lakes and rivers if you also like to fish. Hunting can also be pretty good area dependent. Not far from Alex city as well. Wetumpka is growing and will probably be to the same tune as prattville in the next 10-15 years. My 2 cents.

We really liked Ashland. Seems like the people are very nice in that area. We made several friends just hanging around that town. They have a nice fair and the watermelon festival and like music too. With the lake nearby it seems like a good choice. I also like Jacksonville. What makes it nice is the ability to swing down to Anniston to shop and the availability of college sporting events.

We might be down there next month. I found a loft AirBnB downtown and we are planning on doing the Yellow River. I wanted to go this month for the Christmas stuff yall do, but the wife got busy and we couldn't make it. Need a place or two to get a beer and some can't miss eateries if there are any. Looks like there was a local steak chain place. Perhaps a catfish place?


The choice was Andalusia/Opp/Florala. Not much in either of those two places.

My wife and I love Ashland as well. That's our first choice when the kids are done with school.

William -- You are really missing something in Demopolis! Has a great shopping areas, lots of restaurants, great hunting, great fishing, and easy to get around. Also has a hospital. I don't live there, but do hunt around there.

Big Mikes is a good really good steakhouse