Is Southside Highland safe?
Birmingham, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Southside Highland as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Southside Highland
“Go with care. Southside and Highland Park offer some of Birmingham's most charming historic streets, scenic pocket parks, and premier dining spots. While the residential park avenues are generally peaceful, recent high-profile nightlife violence around the adjacent Five Points South entertainment strip and frequent property crime warrant vigilance after dark.”
A mass shooting outside an entertainment venue in nearby Five Points South in September 2024 brought increased police visibility and scrutiny to late-night safety across the broader Southside area.
About the area
Southside Highland combines leafy, historic residential avenues with active dining and cultural pockets immediately south of downtown and UAB. It is characterized by grand historic homes, mid-century and Spanish Revival apartment buildings, and lush, Olmsted-style neighborhood parks. Visitors enjoy a laid-back, artsy urban vibe with easy access to acclaimed local restaurants.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Foodie Destination
- Urban Parks
- Medical / Academic Hub
Walking and biking in Southside Highland
Walk score: 78/100 · Bike score: 52/100
Highland Avenue has designated on-street bike lanes connecting westward toward UAB and the Rotary Trail / Jones Valley Trail network downtown.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Substantially lower violent crime rate in the Highland residential sector compared to the wider Birmingham municipal average.
- Higher median incomes and educational attainment driven by healthcare professionals, UAB faculty, and students.
- Abundant public green space with three picturesque, well-maintained historic parks (Caldwell, Rhodes, and Rushton).
Cons
- Persistent property crime risks, especially vehicular break-ins and theft from unattended vehicles parked on the street.
- Late-night disturbances and occasional violent altercations centered around nearby Five Points South commercial corridors.
- Inconsistent street lighting and broken sidewalk infrastructure along certain older residential side blocks.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low-to-moderate and tends to cluster around major transit intersections and near Five Points South rather than the core residential park streets. Panhandling is occasional near commercial areas, but large encampments are not typical in Highland Park.
What Southside Highland is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with numerous runners, dog walkers, and medical commuters traversing the park-lined avenues.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Pleasant and active, with regular neighborhood foot traffic around cafes and parks without noticeable tension.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively around neighborhood restaurants and bars; generally safe, though it is wise to stick to lit corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Requires heightened situational awareness; avoid poorly lit side streets and exercise caution near late-night commercial strips.
Transit, parking and getting around
Local bus service is operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA / MAX Transit), primarily via Routes 17 and 28 along Highland Avenue and 20th Street South. The area does not have rail transit.
Free on-street parking is widely available along Highland Avenue and around the neighborhood parks, though spaces can fill up quickly during peak evening dinner hours.
Things to do in Southside Highland
- Walk or picnic through the historic park chain along Highland Avenue, including Caldwell, Rhodes, and Rushton Parks.
- Admire the preserved Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, and Spanish Colonial historic architecture throughout the neighborhood.
- Enjoy patio dining and craft drinks along Highland Avenue's independent restaurant row.
Local favorites
- Bottega Cafe · Italian Restaurant · 4.6★ (1420)Celebrated Italian cafe and dining room serving refined pastas and wood-fired pizzas in a landmark setting.
- Rojo · Latin / American Restaurant · 4.5★ (2350)Casual neighborhood gathering spot with a vibrant patio serving Latin-American comfort food overlooking Rushton Park.
- Freddy's Wine Bar · Wine Bar & Bistro · 4.7★ (380)Cozy, stylish wine bar offering an extensive international bottle list, small plates, and charcuterie.
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.