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Sleepy Guntersville, Alabama (population 8,200), tucked along a stretch of Lake Guntersville's 900 miles of shoreline in northeastern Alabama, is an appealing town in a beautiful setting. The lake is the center of life here and is popular with bass fishermen, boaters and all kinds of water seekers. Retirees in particular are drawn to Guntersville, thanks to its low cost of living, roughly 15% below the national average, and its affordable housing (the median home price is $145,000). Of the population, 45% is age 45 or better. A bit of trivia: John Gunter, the founder of Guntersville, is the great-grandfather of humorist Will Rogers.
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A cute 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, decent restaurants, a strong theater culture, with the Whole Backstage presenting six full scale productions each season. An arts council promotes concerts, art festivals and juried competitions. The Guntersville Public Library has writer lectures, a genealogy room, free wifi, computers with internet access, yoga classes and a mystery book club.
The Guntersville Senior Center, a pretty new facility, offers daily nutrition programs, weekly recreation programs, health screenings, classes and transportation.
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| Numerous state parks, wildlife areas and golf courses (three in town and another eight within 15 miles) give residents plenty of places to play in addition to Lake Guntersville.
Marshall Medical Center North is a 90-bed acute care facility with 50 physicians, a 20-room day surgery department, 4 operating suites and a certified Trauma II emergency department that is serviced by four emergency helicopter transports. It accepts both Medicare and Medicaid patients. Huntsville (population 172,000), with several larger hospitals, is 35 miles away.
The town does not have a public bus system, but scheduled van transportation is available ($1 to $5 per ride depending on the distance). The nearest international airport is in Huntsville.
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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. The sun shines 206 days of the year.
While Guntersville has many strong points, there are a few drawbacks. Crime stats are high, yet most residents report that crime is no worse than anywhere else. The overall consensus is that this is a friendly place, although a bit of an "old boy" network exists. And the entire region is susceptible to tornadoes.
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A low cost of living, affordable homes, good amenities, lake recreation, friendly people, a decent medical facility and strong senior programs are positives, but the crime rate should be considered before retiring here.
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