Life in Alabama

Alabama has 13 Metropolitan Statistical Areas that serve as home to prospering businesses, prestigious colleges and universities, nationally-renowned health centers and doctors, and an affordable housing market. There’s a reason why Alabama hospitality is legendary and our quality of life cannot be beaten.

As the 23rd-most populous state in the U.S., over 20 million people from across the world visit our state every year. But our lifeblood is our citizens—a culturally diverse group that knows how to get the job done when it’s time to work and enjoys life to the fullest when it’s time to relax.

Alabama boasts a geography that spans all different sorts—one of the most varied in the nation, in fact. From mountains and valleys to beaches and riverbanks, there’s a wealth of natural beauty on display when you need to get away. Total Area – 52,424 square miles; Highest point – 2,407 feet above sea level (Mt. Cheaha); 35,469 square miles of forest (71%); 1,776 square miles of water; 53 miles of coastline; 1,350 miles of navigable waterways.

Alabama as a destination state for students, scholars, friends and families is the perfect place to study, work and play. With a wide range of geography, the outdoors experience is uniquely diverse. Universities and colleges are located in almost every corner of the state offering students and their families the optimal level of choices to consider. With international airports in nearby Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA, and New Orleans, LA and flights from virtually all major U.S. airports of entry, Alabama is easily reached from virtually any part of the world.

State symbols are; Flower, Camellia. Bird, Yellowhammer. Song, “Alabama”. Tree, Southern Longleaf Pine.

Weather & Climate

Alabama’s climate is as varied as is the geography of the state ranging from the coastal warmer climate overall year round to the more moderate diverse climate of the more northern areas of the state. Known for mild winters many from the northern states move to Alabama during the winter months and are known as “snowbirds”. Climate: In the winter the average daytime temperatures in the mid- 50s F (10 C), with lows in the 30s (-1 C). In the summer the average daytime temperatures can average over 90 °F (32 °C). Severely cold weather or even snow which is very rare in Alabama, though flurries can be seen in the higher elevation of North Alabama. Alabama is also considered a state with high humidity during some periods of the year when there is high rainfall.

Curious about the weather in Alabama today, please visit here.

Cost of Living

Alabama is well known for its low cost of living when compared to other states such as California, Texas, New York, Florida and most other states. Due to its location in the country along the U.S. Gulf Coast housing, food and most living expenses are some of the lowest in the U.S.

Learn more about the cost of living in Alabama, please visit here.

Notable Landmarks in Alabama

Space & Rocket Center at Huntsville

USS Alabama

Gulf Shores Beaches

Alabama has over 22 state parks from the coast plain to the more mountainous northern reaches of the state. The Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama’s coastal cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are well known year round attractions for their welcoming broad expanses of beaches.