Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville does not screw around with employment. Starting with the Space Race of the 60’s Huntsville became a powerhouse in defense, biotech, hypersonic propulsion, cyber security, rada, aerospace engineering, weapons, combat systems, and counter-intelligence. It also houses a major Toyota auto plant and one of the world’s largest Biotech Research Facilities and one of the world’s largest general research parks. It you are ready to get your STEM on in a career then Huntsville should be on your list.

Note from a local about the community in Hunstville:
Huntsville is a very metropolitan community in the heart of the deep South, and as a result it has been able to keep a small town charm and yet advance into the 21st century leading the nation's military and space exploration efforts. Huntsville has the highest concentration of PhDs anywhere in the United States. It has the highest concentration of high-tech talent anywhere in the United States except for Silicon Valley - it's why one of Huntsville's nicknames is Silicon Holler.

Locals will claim that you get six months of hot, sticky weather, and four months of wet, cold winter - there is an insane amount of rain. That leaves at most 60 days a year where you can relax outside and enjoy the weather.

Some local notes about the weather in Huntsville:
Roughly similar to Florida in the summer, with slightly less humidity. Highs in the 90s are common during the summer, with occasional 100s. The difference is we experience four full seasons, so there is a distinct winter here where it gets chilly (40s for highs, with occasional cold snaps that can bring the lows into single digits). We get an occasional dusting of snow maybe once a year that shuts the town down.

Nightlife in Huntsville is thin relative to other cities nearby (Nashville/Atlanta) but there is both a hipster bar thing and beer and a shot options happening if you crave either of those scenes.. If you’re more cultured you’ll be happy to know the city has a fine symphony orchestra, playhouse, museums, and a concert hall, for those fine art’s nights out.
Huntsville also has a good concert venue where some of the big acts go, but also cool is how perfectly located you are between Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta where every big show happens.