| Recently, Money magazine released its annual Top | | | | Huntsville Real Estate |
| 100 list of Best Places To Live in the U.S. This | | | | Huntsville had impressive standings with its real |
| much anticipated list underscores cities across | | | | estate assessment. Basing its information on |
| America that portray exceptional qualities in the | | | | 2004-2005 figures, Money reported the average |
| areas of income, auto insurance premiums, | | | | price of Huntsville real estate at $193,669. The |
| education, quality of life, leisure and culture, | | | | Best Places average (for a comparable sized |
| weather, health and real estate. Alabama, not | | | | home) was almost double at $359,352. The |
| surprisingly, made the list again. | | | | average property tax bill was a meager $491 |
| Helena, Alabama ranked 91st on the 2007 Top | | | | while the Top 100 average was over $3,500. |
| 100 being cited for low insurance rates and low | | | | Crime |
| state income taxes among other favorable traits. | | | | Boasting almost half the number of personal crime |
| In 2006, Hoover, Alabama was ranked 75th on | | | | incidences per year than the Best Places average, |
| the Money list and was hailed for higher than | | | | Huntsville follows suit with a property crime rate |
| average annual median family income as well as | | | | that is nearly one-third less than the average. |
| greater than average family purchasing power. | | | | Significantly shorter commute times, a diverse |
| Living in Huntsville, I thought it would be interesting | | | | population, exceptional employment opportunities |
| to compare my hometown to the top winners in | | | | and other favorable traits also align Huntsville with |
| order to see how it fared. | | | | many cities currently or previously on the Top |
| State Income Tax Rate | | | | 100. |
| Huntsville has a lower than average state income | | | | If you're considering a place to relocate to, |
| tax range falling between 2% and 5% compared | | | | Huntsville certainly deserves a closer look. With a |
| to the Top 100 average of 2.74% and 6.46%. | | | | hometown feel, beautiful seasonal changes and |
| Auto Insurance Premiums | | | | prominent military installations, you'll find this city |
| Huntsville beat the Top 100 average by over | | | | may rank better for your needs than any others |
| $200 per year with the Best Places average being | | | | on any list. |
| $2,121 and Huntsville's average hovering at $1,897. | | | | |