2 There are nice areas and there are not-so-nice areas, just like most cities. But the...
There are nice areas and there are not-so-nice areas, just like most cities. But the nice hotels in Huntsville are far more expensive than most other cities of the same size.
Gas is cheaper in Huntsville than most of the US, but if you go to a grocery store, you have to pay 9.5 to 11.5% sales tax on all groceries - this varies in each city and municipality. That really bugs me because of the dozen states I've lived in, none of them charged sales tax on grocery items (except where they sell cooked meals/food in a grocery store).
The traffic is horrible. Everyone is tailgating you or passing you like a madman even when you're going the speed limit. Much of the area is missing left turn lanes - you can be on a divided major highway with crossroads and there will be no turn lane --- There are accidents because of these, I've seen several each time I've been in the area. In most places with no turn lane, it isn't even safe to slow down to make a left turn. It is safer in some places to go to the next major crossroad with a turn lane and turn around to get to your destination without getting rear-ended.
The area looks nice but driving at any work-related rush hour can be extremely frustrating.
ThomasM77, United States of America