Is Oakhurst safe?
Birmingham, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Oakhurst as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Oakhurst
“Go with care. Oakhurst is a quiet, predominantly working-class residential neighborhood in Birmingham with limited reasons for typical tourists to visit. While it does not experience the intense violent crime rates seen in the city's most distressed corridors, property crime and surrounding neighborhood spillover require standard situational awareness.”
Local news coverage in southwest Birmingham continues to focus on municipal blight reduction programs and regional efforts to curb property theft.
About the area
Oakhurst is an understated, mid-century residential neighborhood in southwest Birmingham characterized by modest single-family homes and wooded hills. It offers a calm community setting, though commercial amenities and cultural attractions are largely situated in neighboring districts.
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Wooded
Walking and biking in Oakhurst
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 21/100
The area lacks dedicated bike lanes and features hilly terrain; recreational cycling is best enjoyed at nearby Red Mountain Park or the Rotary Trail downtown.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime compared to Birmingham's central and northern urban cores
- High rate of long-term single-family homeownership among residents
- Quiet residential streets with minimal through-traffic congestion
- Close proximity to the commercial corridors of Bessemer Road and West End
Cons
- Above-average regional rates of property crime and vehicle break-ins
- Sub-median household income levels relative to Jefferson County as a whole
- Pockets of aging infrastructure and occasional vacant parcels
- Virtually no walkable retail or dining options within the immediate neighborhood
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in the interior residential blocks of Oakhurst, though occasional panhandling or unhoused individuals may be seen near bus stops along major commercial arterials.
What Oakhurst is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute to work, with low vehicle traffic on interior streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and generally safe for routine driving or neighborhood visits, though commercial activity is sparse.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued atmosphere with limited street activity; keep parked vehicles locked and driveway lighting on.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Dark and very quiet; casual foot traffic is rare and not recommended due to limited visibility.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by MAX Transit (BJCTA), with limited fixed-route bus service along major perimeter corridors such as Bessemer Highway, though headways are long and a personal vehicle is essential.
Parking is exceptionally easy and free, with wide residential streets and private driveways for almost every home.
Things to do in Oakhurst
- Take a quiet architectural drive through the mid-century residential streets
- Visit nearby Red Mountain Park to explore historic iron ore mining trails and scenic overlooks
- Explore local barbecue joints and southern diners along nearby Bessemer Super Highway
Local favorites
- Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (3200)Historic pit-cooked barbecue staple serving pulled pork and classic southern sides nearby.
- Eagle's Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.6★ (1150)Renowned destination for traditional meat-and-three soul food staples like oxtails and collard greens.
- Red Mountain Park · City Park / Nature Reserve · 4.8★ (2100)Expansive 1,500-acre outdoor recreation park featuring miles of hiking trails and tree canopies.
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.