Is Highland Forest safe?
Bessemer, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Highland Forest as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Highland Forest
“Go with care. Highland Forest is a quiet, primarily residential subdivision in Bessemer that is substantially calmer than the city core, though surrounding commercial areas and thoroughfares require general situational awareness. Visitors staying with family or renting an accommodation will find a peaceful suburban pocket, but it offers minimal visitor attractions.”
About the area
Highland Forest is an established, tree-filled residential neighborhood located in eastern Bessemer near the Hoover border. Characterized by single-family homes and curving suburban roads, it functions mostly as a commuter bedroom community. The area is car-dependent with immediate access to major retail corridors along Academy Drive and I-20/59.
- Suburban / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet / Tree-Lined
- Commuter Pocket
Walking and biking in Highland Forest
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There is no bike-share infrastructure or dedicated bike lane network in Highland Forest, and connections to major greenways like the Red Rock Trail System require transporting bicycles by car.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Bessemer's central and northern districts
- High rate of single-family homeownership and stable residential occupancy
- Convenient driving access to shopping centers along Academy Drive and Highway 150
- Quiet, secluded suburban streets with minimal through-traffic
Cons
- Bordered by commercial strips that experience routine retail theft and vehicle break-ins
- Bessemer municipality as a whole faces elevated regional violent crime statistics
- Completely car-dependent with virtually no walkable amenities or dedicated sidewalks
- Limited street lighting along secondary residential streets at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable factor within the residential streets of Highland Forest, though occasional unhoused individuals may be seen near major highway interchanges and commercial centers along Academy Drive.
What Highland Forest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute to work and school, with safe conditions for neighborhood strolls.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-traffic and calm, typical of a sleepy residential subdivision with minimal outside foot traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential atmosphere, though basic street lighting means drivers and joggers should remain alert.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet with very little movement; standard suburban precautions against property theft and vehicle break-ins apply.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is very limited; the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA / MAX) provides sparse regional bus services along major corridors like Highway 11 and Downtown Bessemer, but there is no direct bus route or rail service inside Highland Forest.
Parking is exceptionally easy and free, with ample space in private driveways, residential street parking without meters, and large complimentary surface lots at nearby shopping plazas.
Things to do in Highland Forest
- Tee off or practice your swing at nearby Bent Brook Golf Course
- Catch recent blockbuster films at the AMC Classic Marktplatz 10 theater
- Shop national retailers and local outlets at the Colonial Promenade at Tannehill and Bessemer retail hubs
Local favorites
- Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (3200)Historic, family-owned joint serving classic hickory-pit smoked meats and homemade pies.
- The Bright Star · Southern / Seafood Restaurant · 4.5★ (2800)Alabama's oldest continuously operating restaurant offering Greek-style snapper, steaks, and pies.
- Snitzers Restaurant · American Restaurant · 4.3★ (310)Down-home neighborhood eatery known for hearty breakfast plates, burgers, and comfort classics.
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.