Is Austinville safe?
Decatur, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Austinville as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Austinville
“Go with care. Austinville is an older, predominantly residential working-class neighborhood that is generally peaceful during daylight hours. While violent crime rates against strangers are low, higher property crime rates and isolated disturbances along commercial corridors mean visitors should remain aware of their surroundings, particularly after dark.”
Decatur has seen ongoing community discussions and enhanced policing efforts aimed at curbing localized property thefts and street racing along major arterial connectors.
About the area
Austinville is an annexed historic community in southwestern Decatur characterized by modest mid-century ranch homes, local churches, and neighborhood parks. It offers a quiet, small-town residential feel with easy access to major Decatur thoroughfares and nearby shopping corridors.
- Quiet Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Suburban Feel
Walking and biking in Austinville
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no dedicated bike-share services or protected bike lanes within Austinville, though local residential streets carry low enough traffic speeds for casual cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, quiet residential streets with mature trees and modest single-family homes
- High rates of vehicle access and quick connectivity to Highway 31 and Beltline Road retail
- Generally low density and close-knit community fabric with active neighborhood churches
Cons
- Above-average local rates of property crime such as vehicle break-ins and petty theft
- Lower median household income and pockets of aging housing stock with deferred maintenance
- Limited street lighting and lack of continuous pedestrian infrastructure on secondary roads
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in the interior residential blocks of Austinville, with occasional unsheltered individuals seen closer to major commercial intersections along 6th Avenue and the Beltline.
What Austinville is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as school traffic moves through and residents commute out for the workday.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and routine with moderate traffic along Central Parkway and Austinville Road.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity drops off sharply into a tranquil residential evening, with low foot traffic on side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally dark and quiet, though lower lighting levels warrant staying alert and securing parked vehicles.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is limited; Decatur Public Transit provides on-demand/paratransit van service in the area, but there are no fixed-route rail or dedicated bus rapid transit systems.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the neighborhood via private residential driveways, open street parking, and free surface lots at local businesses.
Things to do in Austinville
- Enjoy outdoor sports and playground facilities at Austinville Park
- Explore the nearby Delano Park and its historic Rose Garden just a short drive northeast
- Visit the historic Old State Bank building and riverfront parks a few minutes north in downtown Decatur
Local favorites
- Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (3200)World-famous regional barbecue joint celebrated for its smoked meats and original white BBQ sauce.
- Whitt's Barbecue · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (410)Longtime local chain serving classic pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and down-home sides.
- Hardee's (Central Pkwy) · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.1★ (520)Reliable fast-food outpost known for made-from-scratch breakfast biscuits and thickburgers.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.