Alabama's unemployment rate climbed to 3.4% in July, up 0.2 points from 3.2%, per BLS. That's the state moving the wrong direction on jobs even while its own tech hub does the opposite.
Huntsville's unemployment rate fell to 3.1% in July, down 0.2 points from 3.3%, per BLS. If you're weighing the two, Huntsville looks like the stronger bet on work right now, state numbers or not.
Gas costs more everywhere in Alabama. AAA's got the state average at $3.94 a gallon, up from $3.84. That's the same number in Huntsville, since it's a statewide price, and it eats into whatever you're saving on housing.
Housing's actually cooling a bit. Alabama's median listing price dropped to $330,900 from $338,900, per realtor.com. Huntsville's listing price fell too, down to $365,000 from $370,000, and its median rent slipped slightly to $1,386 from $1,388, per Zillow. Home values in Huntsville barely moved, up to $315,402 from $314,974, basically flat.
Put it together and Huntsville's the more attractive read this month. Jobs are getting easier to find there while the state overall is losing ground, and housing costs are easing off just enough to notice, even with gas costing more to fill up.
- Alabama's unemployment rate rose 0.2 points to 3.4% in July, per BLS.
- Huntsville's unemployment rate fell 0.2 points to 3.1% in July, per BLS.
- Gas in Alabama, including Huntsville, rose to $3.94 a gallon from $3.84, per AAA's state average.
- Alabama's median listing price fell to $330,900 from $338,900, per realtor.com.
- Huntsville's median listing price fell to $365,000 from $370,000, per realtor.com.
- Huntsville's median rent slipped to $1,386 from $1,388, per Zillow's rent index.
- Huntsville's typical home value rose slightly to $315,402 from $314,974, per Zillow's home value index.