Is Sherwood Hills safe?
Birmingham, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Sherwood Hills as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Sherwood Hills
“Go with care. Sherwood Hills is a modest, primarily residential suburban-style neighborhood on Birmingham's northeast side that sees relatively little visitor traffic. While interior residential streets are generally tranquil, nearby commercial corridors along Parkway East experience elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents.”
About the area
Sherwood Hills is a quiet, mid-century residential neighborhood located in northeast Birmingham near the Huffman and Roebuck areas. It consists predominantly of single-family ranch-style homes surrounded by mature trees and hilly terrain. Visitors primarily pass through or visit friends and family, as the neighborhood itself contains few dedicated tourist destinations.
- Suburban / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Sherwood Hills
Walk score: 22/100 · Bike score: 19/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes and bike-share stations, and hilly topography combined with narrow roads makes cycling purely recreational.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower density single-family residential layout with quiet, low-traffic residential streets
- Close proximity to regional nature areas such as Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek
- Ample private off-street driveway parking throughout the neighborhood
- Relatively stable homeownership presence compared to inner-city Birmingham neighborhoods
Cons
- Higher property crime rates and occasional theft incidents spilling over from adjacent commercial strips
- Car-dependent infrastructure with few continuous sidewalks or designated bike lanes
- Sub-median household incomes and limited immediate neighborhood retail or dining amenities
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Sherwood Hills, though occasional panhandling and unhoused individuals can be seen near retail centers and bus stops along major roads like Parkway East.
What Sherwood Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute out for work, with minimal pedestrian foot traffic on residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and generally safe, though vigilance is recommended if visiting retail plazas along adjacent thoroughfares.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets quiet down significantly; residential areas remain calm while commercial intersections require standard awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark due to limited street lighting, and walking alone late at night is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA / MAX Transit); bus routes serve the nearby Parkway East and Huffman corridors, but frequency is limited and there is no direct passenger rail or BRT service.
Parking is exceptionally easy, as nearly all properties have private driveways and street parking is free and widely unrestricted.
Things to do in Sherwood Hills
- Play a round of historic golf at the nearby Roebuck Golf Course
- Hike and explore local wildlife trails at the nearby Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
- Take a short drive to Turkey Creek Nature Preserve for swimming and nature walks
Local favorites
- Costa's Mediterranean Cafe · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)Long-standing local favorite serving Greek and Mediterranean platters, steaks, and pasta along Parkway East.
- Carpenetti's Pizzeria · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (480)Beloved family-owned spot in the neighboring area serving classic hand-tossed pizzas and calzones.
- Taqueria Juarez · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (320)Authentic street tacos, burritos, and traditional Mexican staples served in a casual roadside setting.
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.