Native Mississippian here. I can't speak for Alabama, but parts of Mississippi, like the Mississippi Delta, are among the most impoverished parts of the country. While crime is relatively low apart from gang activity, I do remember seeing a notice at a Mississippi delta Dominos location with a special map on the wall. It showed parts of town they would not deliver to after dark.

My wife is from the Midwest and thought that was the most peculiar thing she had ever seen.

On the flip side, there are pockets of disproportionate wealth peppered across the state. These places are beautiful, but mostly unobtainable due to housing shortages and sky high interest rates. If you're lucky enough to snag a home in or around these nicer areas, the already low cost of living in the state can actually be quite nice.