Is Basham safe?
Decatur, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Basham as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Basham
“Go. Basham is a peaceful, rural-suburban enclave in Morgan County just south of Decatur with minimal crime and open countryside. Visitors will encounter virtually no street crime, though amenities are sparse and heavily car-dependent.”
About the area
Basham is a quiet, unincorporated community situated in the rolling hills south of Decatur along the Highway 67 corridor. The area is characterized by single-family homes on large parcels, small farms, and winding country roads. It serves primarily as a tranquil bedroom and agricultural community with straightforward access to greater Decatur and Huntsville.
- Rural / Open Spaces
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
- Agricultural / Residential
Walking and biking in Basham
Walk score: 7/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There are no bike-share programs or dedicated bike lanes in Basham; cycling is limited to narrow rural roads with high-speed vehicular traffic and soft shoulders.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent and property crime rates compared to Decatur's urban core
- High rate of owner-occupied housing on spacious residential lots
- Quiet, scenic rural atmosphere with minimal traffic congestion
- Low poverty and stable multi-generational households
Cons
- Virtually no walkability or dedicated pedestrian infrastructure
- Emergency response times can be longer than inside the Decatur city limits
- Sparse commercial offerings requiring drives into Decatur or Priceville for services
- Poor lighting along narrow, unstriped rural roads at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Basham; support services and temporary emergency shelters are centralized in downtown Decatur.
What Basham is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with local commuters heading out along Highway 67 and school buses navigating country roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with light local traffic and agricultural activity around properties.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Serene and very safe, though darkness settles quickly due to the absence of streetlights.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely dark and silent with virtually no pedestrian or vehicular activity, remaining safe from crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
There is no public fixed-route transit service in Basham; Decatur Transit operates limited service within the Decatur municipal core and does not extend to this unincorporated area.
Parking is abundant, private, and free throughout the area, with wide driveways and open surface lots at all local businesses.
Things to do in Basham
- Take a scenic country drive along Morgan County rural routes near Basham Gap
- Visit the nearby Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge for seasonal birdwatching and nature walks
- Explore regional outdoor recreation and riverfront trails at Point Mallard Park nearby
Local favorites
- Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (5600)World-renowned Decatur barbecue institution famous for its smoked chicken and tangy Alabama white sauce.
- Simp McGhee's · Fine Dining · 4.5★ (850)Atmospheric, historic Decatur eatery serving upscale steaks, fresh seafood, and craft cocktails with live music.
- Smokey C's Bar-B-Que · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (920)Beloved local joint offering hearty portions of pulled pork, ribs, loaded potatoes, and homemade sides.
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.