Huntsville's Migration Trends: What You Need to Know

Alabama consistently secures a top-ten position in net migration trends, and in 2023, Huntsville experienced a notable 57% net migration. This discussion delves into the diverse reasons behind moving to the Huntsville market, including job opportunities, family connections, and retirement considerations. Age demographics shed light on family-driven and career-oriented moves, while income trends provide insights into the financial aspects influencing relocation decisions.

Huntsville, like the entire state, is experiencing positive trends in terms of net migration. The calculation involves the number of people moving into the state versus those moving out. Alabama consistently ranks as a top ten state, maintaining this status for five consecutive years.

Last year, in 2023, there was an overall net migration of 35,000 people, with 30,000 from within the US and 5,000 internationally making Alabama their new home.

The Southeast, in general, has greatly benefited from this net migration. Many individuals are relocating from Western and Midwest states due to factors such as cost of living, better weather, and a better climate in Huntsville and the Southeast in general. Huntsville particularly benefited in 2023, achieving a top 25 ranking with a 57% net migration.

This means that if we had 100 people moving, 57 of them would have been moving into Huntsville and 43 would be leaving Huntsville.

The reason for moving to Alabama, specifically the Huntsville market, is diverse. About 30% of people moving to the area come for a job, 25% for family, and 13% for retirement, reflecting the trends in the Huntsville market. Many people relocate here because of the strong job market and numerous job openings.

A lot of people come because of the family that moved here due to those jobs. So that's the other 25%. Being a strong military base and a robust military town, many people get stationed in Huntsville at one point in their careers and love it so much that they want to come back and retire in this area once they get ready for retirement.

Let's look at the ages moving to the Huntsville area. 30% are 65 and above, aligning with the reasons people are moving here, which is family. Many times people move here because the grandkids have relocated, and they want to be closer to their grandkids. We mentioned retirement, and many people stationed here military-wise want to return to the Huntsville area ultimately to retire. That matches up with that. 

In the 55 to 64 age group, we're seeing 28%, which nearly matches up with the job and career growth opportunities in the Huntsville market.

Less than 7% are in the 18 to 34-year range. I expect that percentage to go up over time as there are many new entertainment options and great high-paying jobs for young working professionals in our Huntsville area.

The average income of folks moving to the area aligns with the reasons they're stating as well. About 46% are looking at $150,000 plus household income, which makes perfect sense if they're moving here for jobs. Also, 32% are saying less than $75,000, which again makes sense if we have a high percentage of people retiring in the Huntsville area.