East Coast hidden gem once named 'best place to live' sees locals selling their homes in droves
Huntsville, Alabama, once crowned the 'Best Place to Live' in the US, is seeing a surge in home listings as residents react to rising property values, congestion and rising cost of living.
The city, known for its blend of Southern charm, affordability and booming job market, topped US News & World Report's 2022 rankings, but its appeal has waned as its rapid growth has fueled new frustrations for residents.
'We are the Star of Alabama for a reason,' Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said in 2022 after the city earned the top-ranked post.
'As more people discover what makes us the South's best-kept secret, we take pride in our diverse community's strength and authenticity. Great things are happening in Huntsville!'
Yet, those same attractions are now pushing locals out.
'Rising concerns about career prospects, housing affordability and increased cost of goods and services are reflected in this year's rankings,' Erika Giovanetti of US News & World Report said, noting the prominent city's decline in recent years.
'While quality of life remains the top priority for many Americans, a city's value and job market are becoming increasingly important.'
Huntsville fell from its top-ranked spot in 2022 to a meager number seven in 2025 on the US News 'Best Places to Live' list.
The 2024-2025 Best Places to Live were determined based on a methodology that takes into account the city's job market, value, quality of life and desirability, according to US News & World Report.
The shift in rankings appears to be having a tangible impact on the local housing market, as reflected in recent sales and inventory data.
'Sales are up 8.7 percent and inventory has jumped 46.3 percent,' Huntsville-based Realtor Matt Curtis told AL.com.
The trend mirrors a broader statewide shift, according to the Alabama Association of Realtors.
'The Alabama residential real estate market continues to acclimate to a more traditional mortgage rate environment,' economist David Hughes, of Alabama Realtors, said.
'Despite broader national economic uncertainties, specific indicators within Alabama suggest a strengthening housing market that is poised for growth.'
A March 2025 report from Matt Curtis Real Estate found home values in Huntsville rose nearly 15 percent in a year, pushing first-time buyers and long-time residents to the brink.
'Over-inflated home pricing and one bedroom apartments for 2000 a month - please enlighten me how this doesn't suck?' one Reddit user claiming to be a Huntsville-native wrote. 'Locals are getting priced out of their homes while our state minimum wage hasn't changed.'
'I get the traffic complaints. It's for sure worse than it used to be,' another user said. 'Some people will rightly say that it's still not even remotely bad traffic compared to most cities, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it's worse now than it used to be.'
Another added, 'It truly sucks now. Ready to head to the beach for good.'
In the Huntsville market, which includes all of Madison County, home sales rose to 608 in March from 528 in February and 536 a year earlier, with 740 pending sales.
While, median home prices climbed to $327,000 - up from $318,000 the month before, according to AL.com.
Listings also surged, with 2,530 homes on the market in March compared to 1,814 the year prior. Homes now sit an average of 58 days - up from 46.
'The number of days on the market is close to where it was pre-pandemic,' Ben Wales of Gateway Alabama Realty Group said.
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