What’s the best part of Birmingham?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Birmingham are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Birmingham neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Alabama and Birmingham is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Birmingham for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Southside looks to be the best Birmingham neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Birmingham that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Birmingham.
For more Alabama reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Birmingham
1. Southside
Population: 18,410
Median Home Value: $123,783 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $34,863 (Seventh best)
More on Southside: Real Estate
2. Red Mountain
Population: 11,498
Median Home Value: $343,155 (best)
Median Income: $75,381 (best)
More on Red Mountain: Real Estate
3. Maple Grove
Population: 2,365
Median Home Value: $98,412 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $36,125 (Fifth best)
More on Maple Grove: Real Estate
4. Airport Hills
Population: 5,760
Median Home Value: $119,811 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $35,514 (Sixth best)
More on Airport Hills: Real Estate
5. Evergreen
Population: 1,610
Median Home Value: $80,795 (11th best)
Median Income: $25,508 (15th best)
More on Evergreen: Real Estate
6. Norwood
Population: 4,121
Median Home Value: $66,344 (19th best)
Median Income: $28,856 (12th best)
More on Norwood: Real Estate
7. Five Points South
Population: 12,236
Median Home Value: $114,391 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $27,449 (13th best)
More on Five Points South: Real Estate
8. Brownsville Heights
Population: 1,071
Median Home Value: $154,974 (Second best)
Median Income: $47,821 (Third best)
More on Brownsville Heights: Real Estate
9. Woodlawn
Population: 11,023
Median Home Value: $73,338 (14th best)
Median Income: $38,389 (Fourth best)
More on Woodlawn: Real Estate
10. Smithfield
Population: 7,317
Median Home Value: $77,460 (12th best)
Median Income: $29,602 (11th best)
More on Smithfield: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Birmingham, AL Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Birmingham, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 21 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Birmingham.” We’re lookin’ at you, Southside.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Birmingham, Alabama has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Birmingham.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Birmingham
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Birmingham where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Birmingham are Southside, Red Mountain, Maple Grove, Airport Hills, Evergreen, Norwood, Five Points South, Brownsville Heights, Woodlawn, and Smithfield.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Birmingham aren’t all good. Druid Hills takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Birmingham.
The worst neighborhoods in Birmingham are Druid Hills, Airport Highlands, Central City, Fountain Heights, and Titusville.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Alabama reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Birmingham For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southside | 18,410 | $123,783 | $34,863 |
| 2 | Red Mountain | 11,498 | $343,155 | $75,381 |
| 3 | Maple Grove | 2,365 | $98,412 | $36,125 |
| 4 | Airport Hills | 5,760 | $119,811 | $35,514 |
| 5 | Evergreen | 1,610 | $80,795 | $25,508 |
| 6 | Norwood | 4,121 | $66,344 | $28,856 |
| 7 | Five Points South | 12,236 | $114,391 | $27,449 |
| 8 | Brownsville Heights | 1,071 | $154,974 | $47,821 |
| 9 | Woodlawn | 11,023 | $73,338 | $38,389 |
| 10 | Smithfield | 7,317 | $77,460 | $29,602 |
| 11 | East Birmingham | 5,794 | $73,206 | $31,530 |
| 12 | Glen Iris | 4,598 | $140,333 | $24,667 |
| 13 | Northside | 16,674 | $67,003 | $29,887 |
| 14 | Penfield Park | 692 | $154,974 | $24,441 |
| 15 | West End | 12,821 | $96,290 | $26,227 |
| 16 | Woodland Park | 507 | $85,767 | $25,121 |
| 17 | Titusville | 4,329 | $73,534 | $21,709 |
| 18 | Fountain Heights | 8,923 | $68,273 | $32,496 |
| 19 | Central City | 417 | $63,154 | $52,107 |
| 20 | Airport Highlands | 307 | $70,342 | $23,306 |
| 21 | Druid Hills | 2,001 | $58,004 | $15,826 |