I hope you find someone who has moved there from Detroit. that would be the best information.
I moved down from the Kansas City area to Dallas. Dallas is pretty cosmopolitan compared to some other southern cities I believe, so my answer may not apply as much. Each city may have its own culture, lifestyle, and peculiarities.
My move down here in '72 was very positive for me as a single parent at that time. I had more job opportunities at much higher pay. I loved having more sunshine, green grass and flowers seen around town throughout the year. I hated the cold, gray, damp winters there. Course, I did not realize I'd have to live with 98-102 degree days in the summer but somehow that didn't bother me as much as the winters up there.
Here, I had to learn to start each business conversation with a friendlier, more personal tone (e.g., Hi Susan. What a great hairstyle that is. Then, ask the business question: I was wondering if you happened to have the report ready on ________. Texans are more friendly acting and sounding but sometimes their friendliness is more habit.
The public schools aren't as great here so you really have to know where the best schools are and pay more to live in their area. As with any city, you have to know your suburbs and neighborhoods to avoid problems with drugs, theft, violence, gangs, etc. Small city? Even more important to know more as you want good hospitals, a good school, job opportunities, and decent pay and a strong job market. Check to see if their home values slipped a lot or remained pretty stable (as they did here).
You think we're from the "midwest" but some of them that are native born might chide you by calling you a yankee if you disagree with them about unions, religiion, the Civil War, politics, etc. If you're a diehard right or leftest, check to see if they are diehard anything. Connecting with people is imiportant. Fundamental Baptist was the church of choice here while the more liberal Presbyterian, Congregational, and Methodist church was prominent up there.
They have no basements here but have tornado threats as often as Kansas. Just not as many tornadoes. Do they have hurricanes there? How do you protect yourself?
The women here strive to look attractive here, wear makeup more than there and try out new hairstyles more. They are pretty anti-union here even though it is an open state. The mosquitoes are pestier here. The men can be from anywhere in the country. Some cities have mostly people that were born there because no one from the outside would want to move there. Check to see if the schools are growing or getting smaller. Heavy southern or other accents don't do well here where they might in a more southern state. The countryside is much flatter here with smaller trees. They replace the old buildings more than preserve and refurbish it. They are very football oriented in schools, before school, and fopr the Dallas Cowboys. They create some of their own traffic problems by building highways that narrow down then open up.
That's just my perspective on the various differences I have seen over my home city or other places I have travelled. I've grown to love some things that are different, and still be rather uncomfortable with some things. But I have no desire to move so it was a good move for me.
Here is a link on Tuscaloose that gives some information about many aspects. Ask yourself if the prominent industries are in your line of work in case he needs to job hunt. make sure they are attractiving a diverse business base so that they don't end up being Detroit II.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuscaloosa,_Alabama
