--- Page 1 --- Cameron: Welcome back to the Boomtown podcast. I'm your host, Cameron Walker, broker and owner of Cameron Walker Realty. Today with me, as always, is Megan Hines, one of our fantastic agents at the brokerage. Welcome, Megan. Megan: Welcome, Cameron. Cameron: All right, thank you. Welcome, everybody. Today we have a great topic. We're going to talk about what some people are starting to refer to as the "affordability myth" here in Huntsville. As people move here, they have different assumptions about what it's going to cost to live here, in part because of our videos. We want to give a high-level overview of what's going on, share some specifics, and talk about how people can leverage this information when choosing where to live. Megan: I think we need to talk about what is actually affordable and what is just the same as you would get anywhere else. When people hear that a place is affordable, we picture what that meant 10 years ago—that you go there and everything is cheap. That's simply not the case. Cameron: Absolutely. What's affordable for one may not be for another. When we look at averages, we have to remember that no one person is "the average." Sites like Payscale say Huntsville is 9% cheaper than the national average for cost of living, but that depends on your lifestyle, location, and family size. The main thing you are saving on in the Huntsville area is housing. Houses here are, on average, 28% less than the national average, which is substantial. Megan: It can be confusing because those numbers average in the cost of food, clothes, and everything else. It also depends on where you are within Huntsville. You may be part of that 28% savings, or you may not. There are parts of Madison and Owens Crossroads that are actually slightly higher than the national average. When people move here, they think of the area as one big blob, but it's actually several distinct suburbs and parts of the city. Cameron: We get people calling and asking, "What do you have for $150,000?" The truth is, we have almost nothing. If you find something that you think is livable for $150,000, you should ask a lot of questions because there is usually a reason. We’ve seen issues with $200,000 houses, like undisclosed termite damage or mold. Because we are a "buyer beware" state, there is less disclosure to begin with, and homes priced so far below market value almost always have a hidden issue. Megan: We live in the age of technology; everyone has access to information about what the market should look like. It is very unlikely you will find a home drastically underpriced unless it is a "for sale by owner" situation where the seller is uninformed. Even if a property is listed at a low price, it will often result in multiple offers that bid it up to market value. --- Page 2 --- Cameron: Exactly. If you walk into a $200,000, 3,000-square-foot house, that is a dream scenario, but it is not likely to happen. What is normal in the Huntsville metropolitan area is the mid-$300,000s. In August 2025, the average sales price across our region was $331,000. But when you break that down by suburb, Madison is in the upper $400,000s, and Owens Crossroads is in the low $400,000s, while Tony and Hazel Green are sub-$300,000. Megan: People also try to compare apples to oranges. If you are looking for a 4,000-square-foot home on a two-acre lot in the best school district, that is not going to be $331,000. During a relocation consultation, I often have to give people the news that they need to either adjust their criteria or move their budget to accommodate their must-haves. Cameron: It’s not all bad news. If you are coming from California, New York, or Washington, you can get a 3,000-square-foot home here within your price range. If you have a house to sell in those states, you are going to come here with significant equity and can purchase a much larger home. Megan: The idea that this market is "less expensive" on every level is a misconception. We still live in modern-day America, but you definitely save on things like gas and taxes. Cameron: Gas prices are considerably less expensive here. Regarding food and dining, unless you are coming from downtown Manhattan, a lot of the costs are pretty in line with national averages. Because we have many high-wage workers here, we have nice dining options, but those options are expensive. Megan: If you are used to the quick, affordable grab-and-go options in cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco, you won't find as much of that here. You will be cooking at home more often if you want to save money. Cameron: Another topic I get asked about is healthcare. It can be more expensive here, and it really varies on the type of care you need. It is important to research the specific specialists you need. Also, check with your insurance provider to see what is covered, especially if you are moving across state lines. Megan: Finding a personal doctor who can recommend specialists can be challenging here. If you take daily medication, get a 30-day supply before you move and try to get established with a doctor here before you arrive to avoid any gaps in coverage. Cameron: Let's summarize our takeaways for the cost of living. There are three "rings" of the area. The center—Huntsville and Madison—is more expensive but has more amenities. The secondary range—Harvest, Hazel Green, New Market, and Owens Crossroads—is more affordable but usually requires a longer commute. The third ring—Athens, Decatur, and Tony—is growing, and prices are catching up. --- Page 3 --- Megan: Something else to consider is that you can save money by choosing a home in a community with amenities like a pool, walking trails, and tennis courts. If you have children, you save significantly by staying in your neighborhood for entertainment rather than going out. Cameron: Agreed. And our HOA fees are generally lower than in many other markets. Hopefully, we've busted a few myths around what it costs to live here. If you have questions, please reach out to us. Thanks for watching or listening, and please subscribe to stay informed about everything going on in Huntsville.