The hilly "Rocket City" of Huntsville is a confluence of Southern history, hi-tech innovation and natural beauty. Once in Union hands during the Civil War, the city became a player in the Apollo Program and more recently in NASA's Space Shuttle program and the nation's missile defense systems.

Seniors looking for assisted living will find dozens of options in the Huntsville area. Before you begin your search, find out a little more about this northern Alabama city. 

Huntsville's overall cost of living is 7% below the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state and local tax burden is 8.5% or 1.3% below the national average. Equally appealing is that retirement income (Social Security, Military, Civil Service, state/local and out-of-state pensions and certain private pensions) are tax exempt. 

Huntsville's senior housing is more expensive than the rest of Alabama. For instance, a private room in an assisted living facility averages $3,743 a month versus the state average of $2,899 a month. Nursing homes, however, are more in line with state and national numbers: a private room averages $204 a day; a semi-private $194.

Seniors in Huntsville will find a number of area attractions such as the historic Alabama Constitution Village, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Sci-Quest Science Center and the Veteran's Memorial Museum just to name a few.

The 2,400-acre Monte Sano State Park has 14 miles of hiking trails, cabins, camping and the Von Braun Planetarium. In addition, the Blevins Gap Preserve and Wade Mountain Preserve offer over 33 miles of trails. Downtown's Big Spring Park offers shaded walks, the Panoply Arts Festival and the Big Spring Jam music festival.

Start your search for Huntsville assisted living and other senior care options using the advanced search option at the top. If you have questions, send Assistedseniorliving.net a note using the fields at the top.