First of all, I'm glad you're interested in my home. I really feel North Alabama is a hidden gem in many ways. The cost of living is nice, the earning potential is right, the real estate market is peaking, we have many new major companies coming to the area, etc., I'm a CNA and in nursing school so i'll tell you what I heard from my LPN friends.
Anyways, to what you were asking...
LIVING:
Your pay is about the same as what you'd be making down here, but the cost of living is a little lower. Most people live outside of Huntsville and commute in such as myself. I commute about 35 mins.
Madison, AL is the second wealthest area in the State. It's beautiful a lot of nice homes in the 150,00+++ range (that's expensive for us).
Most people that move here from bigger cities like the Toney/Harvest, AL area. If you have kids, are older, want some land, or just want some scenery that's the place to settle. It's grown ALOT so housing cost is going to go up soon.
Huntsville, AL the apartment living is nice. They are building lots of new ones all the time. You'll be convienent to everything. If you want a house I'd look at anywhere on South Memorial Parkway.
Decatur, AL. I like Decatur. It's pretty town on the Tennessee River. The facilities don't pay much but it's cheeap, cheeap living and a good commute to Huntsville.
WORK:
Huntsville Hospital is the popular girls table. The main facility doesn't hire LPN's but LPN's pretty much run ALL the clinics and outpatients.
Encompass Health (formerly Healthsouth) hire's LPN only to work day shift 6:15a-7p. I would work here if I was an LPN.
Madison Manor- I use to work there. I HATED IT! They were extremely RACIST. A new grad LPN gets $19.50, i don't know about someone experienced.
Valley View- I think a new grad starting the pay is 19.90. The faciltiy is nice but there turn over rate is HIGH.
That's the most I know as far as work.
