Is Highland Park safe?
Northport, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Highland Park as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Highland Park
“Go. Highland Park is a peaceful, established residential community in Northport with low crime rates and a quiet suburban character. While there are few commercial attractions directly inside the residential pocket, it is safe to navigate and sits just minutes from historic downtown Northport and the Black Warrior River.”
About the area
Highland Park is a mature residential neighborhood in Northport characterized by mid-century single-family homes, leafy lots, and quiet streets. It serves primarily as a settled bedroom community for families and professionals working throughout the Tuscaloosa metropolitan area.
- Quiet Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Mid-Century Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Highland Park
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There is no local bike-share program or dedicated bike lanes in the neighborhood, though the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk multi-use path is a short drive or ride south.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low rates of violent crime compared to metro-wide averages
- High rate of stable, owner-occupied single-family homes
- Quick access to highway corridors and downtown Northport amenities
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property theft and vehicle break-ins
- Minimal pedestrian infrastructure like sidewalks on internal streets
- Completely car-dependent for daily errands and dining
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Highland Park, as services and shelters are concentrated across the river in central Tuscaloosa.
What Highland Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and bright with neighbors walking dogs and light outbound commuter traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and peaceful with minimal vehicle movement throughout the residential blocks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued suburban atmosphere with residents relaxing in yards and very safe conditions.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Dark and very quiet; while safe, low street lighting means basic situational awareness is recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by the Tuscaloosa County Parking and Transit Authority (TCPTA), but fixed-route bus service does not directly penetrate Highland Park's interior residential streets.
Free and plentiful parking is available on private driveways as well as along residential curbs with no metering.
Things to do in Highland Park
- Enjoy a morning stroll or run along the neighborhood's low-traffic residential loops
- Visit the nearby Kentuck Art Center and campus located just minutes away in downtown Northport
- Take a short drive south to the scenic Tuscaloosa Riverwalk along the Black Warrior River
Local favorites
- City Cafe · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (2150)Long-running local staple famous for Southern meat-and-three platters and hearty breakfast fare.
- Billy's Sports Grill · Bar & Grill · 4.3★ (720)Relaxed neighborhood tavern serving classic pub wings, burgers, and craft beers on tap.
- Mary's Cakes & Pastries · Bakery · 4.7★ (380)Beloved local bakery known for custom cakes, cookies, and Southern artisan pastries.
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.