Considering moving to Montgomery? Alabama’s capital city offers an affordable cost of living and an incredible variety of nightlife, restaurants, and family-friendly activities that can’t be beat. Check out these 12 things to know about living in Montgomery!
Live Affordably & Work in the South
One of the best affordable places to live in the U.S., living in Montgomery is a budget-friendly option. The cost of living in Montgomery, AL, is 12% lower than the national average, with the cost of housing is 25% lower than the national average—which includes a median home price at $121,100 and median rent just passing $900! But affordability isn’t the only reason people want to move to this Alabama city! Despite the fact that Montgomery’s job market has slowed down a bit, it’s projected to continue to grow over the next ten years—and it’s worth mentioning that Monty has an unemployment rate lower than both the state and national rate! With large employers in the area like Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Koch Foods, and Baptist Health System, you can find all kinds of employment opportunities in the manufacturing, agriculture, government, and healthcare industries.
Enroll at Top Colleges & Universities
Students in search of higher education opportunities will find them at the numerous Montgomery colleges and universities! Gain hands-on skills for in-demand careers with programs like respiratory therapy, engineering technologies, or business administration at Trenholm State Community College. For faith-based higher education, attend Huntingdon College, which strives to offer students more individualized attention. Experience a vibrant campus life when you get an undergraduate and graduate degree at Auburn University at Montgomery, which has great programs in business and healthcare. Further your education online with programs for criminal justice, web development, or professional counseling at Amridge University, a faith-based institution. Or head back to school to get a graduate degree in biblical studies, business administration, or speech language pathology at Faulkner University!
Support Montgomery’s Only HBCU
Alabama State University is Montgomery’s only Historically Black College and University (HBCU), where academic excellence meets a rich cultural legacy. ASU offers a wide range of programs, including occupational therapy, mathematics, elementary education, accounting, and more, preparing students for their future careers. Beyond the classroom, ASU fosters a strong sense of community through programs like their Zelia Stephens Early Childhood Center, the Alabama Small Business Development Center, and more. The university is also home to the Sensational Stingettes, the school’s well-known majorette team that brings energy to the school’s marching band performances. Whether you’re looking to pursue higher education, engage with Montgomery’s vibrant community, or be part of a proud HBCU tradition, you’ll find what you’re looking for at ASU!
Enjoy Incredible Weather All Year Long
If you want to live somewhere with warm temperatures year-round, Montgomery’s weather is going to be a treat! Local residents love the area’s subtropical climate, which brings hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures typically range from 92 degrees at the height of summer to just under 58 degrees in winter, making it possible to spend the entire year enjoying all that Montgomery has to offer. Though you’ll deal with thick humidity levels and heavy rain—as Alabama is one of the wettest states in the U.S.—you’ll rarely have to deal with snow, making Montgomery a fantastic location for snowbirds!
Head Down to the Riverfront
Situated along the Alabama River, Montgomery Riverfront Park is filled with fun things to do for everyone! Make the most of summer nights by watching a ballgame featuring the Montgomery Biscuits (MiLB)—the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB)—at Riverwalk Stadium. Take a relaxing riverboat cruise with friends on the Harriott II. Grab a spot on the grass to attend the Montgomery Smooth Jazz Festival, watch a show, or listen to a local band play at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Attend the Red Bluff Music & Arts Festival, or play outside games like horseshoes or cornhole while you enjoy a meal and a rotating draft selection at Red Bluff Bar. Or put a team together for the annual Baptist Health Tri Montgomery, which kicks off at the river’s edge and ends when you run through the park’s entrance arch!
Learn About Civil Rights History
As the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, you can learn about the history of Montgomery at various museums and historical landmarks. Visit the the Greyhound bus station where riders trying to desegregate interstate busing arrived from Birmingham in 1961 at the Freedom Rides Museum. Sit in the pews where the Freedom Riders sought refuge after arriving in Montgomery at First Baptist Church on Ripley Street. Learn about the history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and sit in a restored Montgomery bus from 1955 at the Rosa Parks Museum. Tour where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family lived while he was the pastor at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church at the Dexter Parsonage Museum. Spend some time honoring those who fought for freedom at the Civil Rights Memorial, where 40 names of those who died have been etched forever in stone. Or check out Legacy Sites like the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which are both committed to acknowledging the legacy of racial tensions that shaped America.
Engage With the Montgomery Arts Scene
The capital of Alabama has a deep appreciation for the arts. Head over to tour the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald—author of The Great Gatsby—spend a night in Zelda or Scott’s suite, and celebrate the holidays at the annual Christmas Open House held on the grounds at the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum. Learn more about the father of Contemporary country music by looking through old photos, listening to music, and checking out his 1952 Baby Blue Cadillac at the Hank Williams Museum. Spend a day viewing the Old Master Prints, Sculpture Garden, and rotating exhibitions like The Carrying Stones Project, Paper Moon, or Homeward to the Prairie I Come at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. See touring shows like The Black Jacket Symphony, JJ Grey & Mofro & The Marshall Tucker Band, or Montgomery Gentry at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Support the annual Spring Concert, where the school’s students showcase the choreography they’ve been working on at the Montgomery Ballet. Or make your way to experience Shakespearean plays and modern productions at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Experience Montgomery’s Outdoors
With an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, Montgomery offers 419 parks that span across over 37,000 acres, as well as numerous easy-to-access green spaces and trails! Walk through open green space, then stop by the pond at Blount Cultural Park. Bring your dog to work off some energy and socialize with other four-legged pals at Hannah Daye Ridling Bark Park. Test your green thumb, see how you handle chicken and duck farming, or take part in community harvests at EAT South, Montgomery’s urban teaching farm. Play nine holes at the golf course, hit the playground with the kids, or take a hike along the trails at Gateway Park. Go for a run or bike throughout the 432 acres that cover Lagoon Park Trail. Or take the whole family to set up a picnic, check out the planetarium, play horseshoes, and more at Oak Park!
Check Out Family Activities in Montgomery
Parents and kids will love exploring the great family-friendly attractions in Montgomery! Make your way through North America, Africa, and Australia exhibits while seeing different animal species at the Montgomery Zoo. Let the whole family learn about the beauty of the cosmos by looking up at the stars inside the W.A. Gayle Planetarium. Discover more about Alabama’s rich history by visiting exhibits like The Land of Alabama, Alabama Voices, and more at the free Museum of Alabama. Test your puzzle and code-breaking skills inside one of the immersive escape rooms at Escapology. Take a step back in time by visiting with authentic 19th and 20th-century homes, buildings, and activities to learn about how both free and enslaved Alabama residents once lived at Old Alabama Town. Or get to know more about Alabama’s beef cattle industry in interactive exhibits like The Cow Pen, The Cowboy Arena, and The View from Pasture to Plate at The MOOseum!
Take Part in the City’s Annual Events
When you live in Montgomery, you’ll find a variety of events that fit your tastes! Participate in hands-on art, listen to live music, and much more at the annual Flimp Festival, held at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Fill your bellies with crawfish while enjoying live music and other outdoor activities at the Annual Crawfish Boil at Century Church. Celebrate the anniversary of the historical march by taking part in the annual Selma-to-Montgomery Bike Ride. Watch bull-riding and mutton bust’n, or check out livestock expositions at the SLE Rodeo. Do some early holiday shopping and attend a silent auction during the three-day Holiday Market. Or show off your skills and prove you’re one of Alabama’s best athletes during the Alabama State Games!
Expand Your Palate
One of the best things about living in Montgomery is all of the incredible Southern cuisine you can experience! Grab the Special Dog, Cheese Dog, or the Two Hotdog Combo from Chris’ Famous Hotdogs—which has served everyone from famous musicians like Elvis Presley to public figures like President Franklin D. Roosevelt since 1917. Order the Wild Mushroom Farrotto, Roasted Guinea Fowl, or Duck Au Poivre at Central, one of Montgomery’s best restaurants. Sit down to order fresh and delicious Montgomery seafood like Argentina Shrimp, Alaskan Snow Crab Legs, or a Scallop Po-Boy Sandwich at Capitol Oyster Bar. Enjoy the tastes of Central America with the Coctel de Camaron, Puerco Verde, or Alambre de Bistec at Sol Restaurante. Get some Southern comfort with Fried Chicken, Oxtail, and Catfish at Mrs B’s Home Cooking. Or treat yourself to some of Alabama’s best barbecue with dishes like Tips & Chips, Boneless Rib Tips, or the Ultimate BBQ Plate at Dreamland BBQ!
Enjoy Montgomery’s Nightlife
Whether you love spending time with friends, trying local Montgomery bars, or listening to live music, Montgomery’s nightlife scene has something for everyone! Support local brewers and quench your thirst with a Ramber, Zelda Blonde, or Orbital Cloud from Common Bond Brewers while playing games outside. Sit outside while sipping craft cocktails like the Gin Blossom, Rosemary Tango, or The Copywriter at The Gin. Enjoy a luxurious experience where you can smoke a cigar while savoring top-shelf tequila, rum, brandy, Japanese whisky, and more at 23 Court. Pick from rotating draft options like the BeeMosa, Yuzu Pirika, or Rainbow Sherbert at Leroy Lounge. Listen to everything from funk and reggae to jazz and blues every night of the year at 1048 Jazz and Blues! Or indulge in wines like the Turn Me Riesling, Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc, or Cave de Lugny “Les Charmes” Chardonnay at Taste.
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