Is The Highlands safe?
Huntsville, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates The Highlands as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on The Highlands
“Go with care. The Highlands is a modest, primarily residential neighborhood in North Huntsville that sees elevated levels of property crime and occasional violent incidents compared to the city's affluent southern and western suburbs. While daytime visits are generally quiet, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and secure vehicles overnight.”
Local news coverage in North Huntsville has occasionally highlighted targeted gun violence and nuisance property crimes along major adjacent arterial corridors like Sparkman Drive and Pulaski Pike.
About the area
The Highlands is an established residential neighborhood in North Huntsville, characterized by mid-century single-family ranch homes, mature trees, and proximity to Oakwood University and Alabama A&M University. It offers a low-key suburban layout with easy highway access to downtown Huntsville and the Cummings Research Park corridor.
- Residential
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in The Highlands
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes within the neighborhood, though riders can connect via local roads to the North Huntsville greenway system a short ride away.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to Downtown Huntsville and University Drive retail corridors
- Close proximity to higher education campuses including Oakwood University and Alabama A&M
- Suburban single-family character with low commercial congestion on interior streets
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates are higher than the Huntsville metro average
- Lower median household income and higher poverty rates compared to Madison County benchmarks
- Limited commercial amenities within the neighborhood boundaries, necessitating a car for most errands
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential core, though occasional individuals experiencing homelessness or panhandling can be seen along commercial stretches of nearby University Drive and Sparkman Drive.
What The Highlands is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute to work and school, with safe conditions for walking dogs or jogging.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Relatively calm residential activity with occasional local traffic along the perimeter connectors.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly after dusk; street lighting is sparse in interior pockets, requiring extra caution.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally deserted streets with higher risk of property crimes and vehicle prowling; walking after midnight is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Huntsville Transit (Orbit) provides limited fixed-route bus service along nearby corridors like Sparkman Drive and Meridian Street via Routes 7 and 8, though service is infrequent and there is no rail transit.
Ample free street and driveway parking is available throughout the residential streets, and no metered parking exists in the neighborhood.
Things to do in The Highlands
- Take a scenic walk through the nearby historic Oakwood University campus grounds
- Explore recreational fields and playgrounds at nearby Lakewood Park
- Visit the adjacent North Huntsville public library branch for community events and quiet reading
Local favorites
- Betty Mae's Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.6★ (780)Beloved local staple serving traditional Southern meat-and-three comfort dishes just south of the neighborhood.
- Tenders! Sparkman · Chicken Restaurant · 4.3★ (620)Popular North Huntsville counter-serve spot known for chicken tenders, fries, and signature dipping sauce.
- Edith Ann's Taste of Home · Diner · 4.5★ (410)Down-home diner serving generous breakfast plates and country cooking nearby.
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.