From all accounts, Guntersville, Alabama (population
8,300), tucked along a stretch of Lake Guntersville's 900 miles of
shoreline in northeastern Alabama, is an appealing town in a beautiful
location. The lake is the center of life here and is
popular with fishermen (bass), boaters and all kinds of water seekers.
Retirees in particular are drawn to Guntersville (the median age is
41, higher than the national average), thanks to its low cost of
living, roughly 12% below the national average, and its affordable
housing (the median home price is $127,000).
A charming downtown, water on three sides, and solid
amenities all contribute to Guntersville high marks. There
are stylish museums (Civil War and Native American), a thriving parks
and recreation department (lots of athletics for adults), historic
homes, a well-stocked library, decent restaurants, a strong theater
culture with the Whole Backstage presenting six full scale productions
each season and an arts council that promotes concerts, art festivals
and juried competitions. Numerous state parks, wildlife
areas and golf courses give residents plenty of places to play in
addition to Lake Guntersville.
The Guntersville Senior Center, a gorgeous new
facility, offers daily nutrition programs, weekly recreation programs,
health screenings, classes and transportation. Marshall Medical
Center North is a 90-bed acute care facility with 50 physicians, a
20-room day surgery department, 4 operating suites, a 24/7 emergency
unit and is a certified Trauma II Emergency Department that is
serviced by four emergency helicopter transports.
Huntsville (population 172,000), with several larger hospitals, is 35
miles away.
For a small town somewhat off the beaten path (there
is a municipal airport), Guntersville has a lot happening.
Another plus is that there are no real estate taxes for people 65 or
better, and Social Security is not taxed. A bit of trivia:
John Gunter, the founder of Guntersville, is the great-grandfather of
humorist Will Rogers.
While Guntersville has many strong points, there are a
few drawbacks. Most worrisome are the high crime stats,
roughly 2.5 times the national average. Yet, most residents
report that crime is no worse than anywhere else, so it is possible
that the crime rate numbers are taking into account nearby Huntsville.
The overall consensus is that this is a friendly place, although a bit
of a old boy network exists. The entire region is susceptible to
tornadoes. The weather is hot and humid, and summer temperatures
can reach into the 90s with 80% humidity. Winters are mild, with
temperatures in the 30s and 40s. It rains 4 to 6 inches per
month.
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Recommended
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Low cost of living, affordable
homes (even waterfront), good amenities, plenty of
outdoor recreation, friendly people, decent
medical facility and strong senior programs, but
the crime rate is worrisome and should be
thoroughly researched before retiring here.
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