Ever wanted to get away from it all without losing it all? Madison is just the sleepy little town that can help you do it, with a community as colorful as it is peaceful.
Whether you want to retire or settle down in a place with a slower pace, Madison is uniquely situated as a city that will neither bother nor bore you. Huntsville is less than twenty minutes away on the I-565 in case you need to catch a flight or catch up with old friends. Whether you're renting an apartment or buying a house, Madison's a great choice for commuters and townies. Madison sprung up from a single train station in the early nineteenth century and become the rapidly growing, multicultural city it is today.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Expect to pay a little more for room and board in Madison. The city is populated by working professionals and tech savvy IT nerds commuting to Huntsville or Intergraph, a nearby software engineering corporation. Madison is the sort of town people gravitate to when they want to get away from larger cities with their larger than life problems. Be prepared to accept life that moves a little slower and pays a bit more attention to the verdant surroundings.
You're not going to find an all bills paid or month-to-month lease in Madison. A decent credit score and enough funds to front your move will be essential. Even a studio apartment will set you back over a thousand dollars in a majority of the master plan apartment complexes. The upside to paying through the nose for a piece of Eden is that developers and residents alike don't disappoint. Remember to factor in Homeowners Association fees if you plan on living in the extremely convenient and ridiculously swanky planned communities.
If rental homes and single family properties are more your style there are a number of master planned communities and brand new homes for sale or rent. Many of these communities come with a matching master price tag and HOA fees but if you dislike mowing the lawn and spending Saturdays pulling weeds then you won't mind shelling out the association charge.
Madison is an extremely pet-friendly town. If all dogs go to heaven, then they probably end up somewhere in Madison. With rolling green fields, seemingly endless greenways and pet friendly renters dog owners settle in quickly to life in Alabama. Just because the city is open to pets, however, don't expect to escape the pet deposit. Budget something along the lines of $100-$200 before you begin looking around. In some cases a complex or rental home may charge pet rent, if this is the case either look elsewhere or buckle down and accept that pet are expensive. If you're moving from out of state be sure to drive as it's easier on Fido's nerves than the hold of an airplane.
Any time of the year is ideal to move to Madison. There are no seasonal populations like college students or resort workers to worry about grabbing up rental properties. It can get to the high nineties in the summer but the winters are extremely mild so if you can take the heat why not settle in when summer vacation is in full swing?
The High Life
When you wonder what kind of atmosphere you'll find in Madison, it's helpful to consider that there are four limousine companies and no public bus route. While city life is subdued and quiet the locals are anything but bumpkins (no Beverly Hillbillies here). There's quite a bit of luxury to be had among the lush surroundings. With a historically quaint downtown and summer festivals, Madison is a little metropolis; just don't forget to bring your tye dye shirt.
The city is especially proud of its greenways and trails (think yellow brick roads... but better for the environment). The city is focused on facilitating healthy modes of transportation like walking, biking and jogging--at least someone is, right? The Rainbow Mountain Preserve is an easy 1.5 mile loop perfect for families and couples looking to immerse themselves in the natural assets of Madison. Avid joggers and runners routinely take advantage of Mill Creek, Indian Creek, and Bradford Creek greenways servicing the surrounding areas of Madison.
If you're sick of smog, traffic and take a gander at Madison. It may cost a little more than renting an apartment in Huntsville but the immaterial gains of living in a warm, welcoming and safe community is well worth the extra coin.
