Whether you are new to Birmingham or a local considering a neighborhood change, navigating the housing market can be tough – but we know from experience that an inside scoop from your peers is always beneficial. For this student insight feature, our co-contributors reached out to a few of their classmates to learn more about their current neighborhoods and how they feel it works for their med student lifestyle.
Southside (Glen Iris and Five Points South)
Pros:
Perhaps the biggest advantage is the proximity to campus, this comes with commutes of 10-15 minutes by foot or bike and can be 10 minutes by car if traffic is fair. Additionally, the neighbors of the southside tend to be quieter than downtown (unless you live in Five Points) and there is no midnight street racing. For entertainment Five Points South contains many bars and restaurants ranging from Chez Fonfon to IKKO, Chick-fil-A and many more. There is ample green space including George Ward Park, Bessie Estell Park, and the Vulcan Trail.
Review:
Southside is great for those who want a short commute and cheaper rent. There is a range of apartment complexes ranging from modern luxury apartments to historic buildings, this means rent can vary but generally falls between $700-$1500 (can go even lower with roommates). It tends to be quiet, however there can be a few house parties occasionally but they tend to be less of a distraction than street racing in other neighborhoods. A con is it is further from grocery stores than other places but a Publix, Target, and Walmart are all within a 15 minutes' drive.
Apartments:
You can find an apartment on Zillow, Apartment.com, Rent.com, Rent Monster and UAB Off- Campus Office. Also, there are a lot of small and independent landlords in Southside so you can find some good deals on local listing services.
● Landing
● Southside Station
● Southwood Gardens
● Crowne on 10th
Homewood/Lakeshore
Pros:
Homewood is a beautiful place to live and combines lots of nature, great food spots, and things to do in one area! Many older adults, young professionals and families live here since it is very safe. Homewood is great for runners/dog parents/walkers since it has lots of parks, trails, and sidewalks! Rent is usually around $700-$1500 a month depending on location, apartment size, and roommates. This part of Birmingham is a tad expensive, but up and coming and has many new restaurants opening up in Fall of 2024 :)
Review:
Homewood is the place to be if you want some separation between work and home! It is about 10-15 minutes to campus (give or take a couple more minutes for morning traffic), but beautifully situated in the suburbs of Birmingham and very family friendly. You will never run out of coffee shops to try in Homewood, and the food spots are incredible! Some of the most popular coffee shops are Santos Coffee, Seeds, Caveat, and O-Henry’s, and some favorite food spots are Pizzeria GM, Real & Rosemary, and Maple Street Biscuit Company. It is divided into its own “sub-neighborhoods” with each one offering something special!
➔ West Homewood: Patriot Park, West Homewood Farmer’s Market, Seeds Coffee
➔ Downtown Homewood: Social Taco, Soho Social, Big Bad Breakfast
➔ Edgewood: Homewood Central Park, Hero Doughnuts, Nabeel’s Cafe
Apartments:
● Abbey at Regent’s Walk
● Lakeshore Ridge
● WildForest Apartments
● The Pearl at Homewood
● Homewood Heights Apartment Homes
● Estelle
● The Crescent at Lakeshore
Off 280
Pros:
A major advantage of living off Highway 280 is cheaper rents and bigger apartments for the same price as apartments closer to campus. Rents generally start around the $900 range for a basic apartment. Additionally, you are conveniently located near several grocery stores, The Summit shopping center, and several popular restaurants. Lastly, many of the neighborhoods off 280 have excellent schools and community parks.
Review:
Living off 280 is great if you want to disconnect from downtown and like a more suburban setting. There are plenty of unique shops, including the only Trader Joe’s in Birmingham. Additionally, 280 already has ready access to movie theaters, dog parks, and some popular restaurants. However, the biggest drawback is the traffic. At 4:00am you will have no problem getting to campus in 20 minutes or less. However, if you drive during the day you will have to deal with the infamous traffic of Highway 280 which can more than double your commute time.
Apartments:
For those searching for housing options, popular neighborhoods along Highway 280 include Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, and Inverness. Rental prices vary depending on the type of accommodation and location, ranging from $800 to $2000 per month for apartments and $1500 to $4000 per month for single-family homes.
● 150 Summit Apartments
● Avenues of Iverness
● Parc at Grandview
● Tributary Rise Apartments
● Crowne at Grandview
Forest Park/Lakeview
Pros:
Forest Park/Lakeview, located southeast of downtown Birmingham, offers easy access to campus with just a short 10-minute drive, so if you’re running late, it won’t be such a stressful time to get to Volker. A lot of the houses have historic architecture, so it’s very picturesque. Very easy to bike to campus because the terrain is flat!
Review:
You won’t be bored in this neighborhood because it has a lot of hot spots such as Carrigan’s Beer Garden, Hattie B’s, Slice Pizza and Brew, Trim Tab Brewing Company, Shoppe Plant Nursery, General Home Goods Store, Dreamers Supply Co., and The Rougaroux. While there is a lot to do, it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of Birmingham, so you can find peace at home instead of city noise. However, these neighborhoods can be a little pricey, so if you find a good deal, then you need to act fast because it will be off the market in like two days.
Apartments:
● Iron City Lofts
● Park 35 on Clairmont
● Lakeview Apartments
● Lakeview Green
Forest Park/Lakeview is also GREAT for purchasing or renting a house. Properties in these areas tend to be in high demand, so it's probably best to monitor Zillow and other real estate platforms frequently and as soon as possible.
Downtown
Pros:
Downtown Birmingham, located in the heart and center of the city, there is so much that the city can offer you. It’s a 10-minute drive to campus and the commute involves navigating lots of one-way streets (if you like that). Downtown Birmingham is packed with lots of restaurants, nightlife, community attractions, and outdoor spots. Living downtown also gives you easy access to the UAB Hospital systems and clinics which are only 5-10 minutes away if you walk from a place downtown. If the weather isn’t ideal, you can hop into the hospital and walk along designated hospital routes until you reach Volker Hall (huge plus!) within 15 minutes.
Review:
There’s so much to do here which means that you’re spoiled for choice! When it comes to dining options you can visit Hero Doughnuts & Buns, The Essential, The Pizitz Food Hall, El Barrio, Pizza Grace, Bamboo on 2nd, Chipotle, Cava, and many more options! After you chow down, you can walk around some of the green spaces that downtown has to offer like the Civil Rights Heritage Trail, Kelly Ingram Park, and Railroad Park. If walking around the park isn’t your thing and you want to soak up the history and culture of Birmingham, you can visit the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, the Alabama Historical Radio Museum, The Negro Southern League Museum, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and lastly, the Civil Rights District.
Birmingham is a city where so much can happen in one night so if you’re looking for the best of both the sports and arts worlds, you can visit a Birmingham Barons Game, McWane Science Center, or check out the Alabama Theatre. Once you’ve explored all that downtown has to offer, you can kick back with a cool relaxing drink at Back Forty Beer Company, The Wine Loft, and even Neon Moon. If spirits aren’t your thing, we’d also recommend checking out the community attractions like the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Zoo (which aren’t downtown but are still 100% worth the visit).
Apartments:
If you choose to live downtown, you can walk to Volker Hall within 10-15 minutes or take a quick 5-mnute drive. Regions Field, Chipotle, Cava, and even a Publix are located downtown near these housing options. In addition to these lovely options, there are lots of hotels downtown that are perfect for when you have visitors (aka family and friends celebrating your white coat). Some things to note about living downtown are that apartments are in high demand, so the prices will be higher, and we’d recommend checking out Apartments.com and Zillow to price check trends.
● 20 Midtown
● The Palmer
● Bristol Southside Condos
● Foundry Yards
● Flats on 4th
Hoover
Pros:
Although Hoover is farther from Volker, it has a bunch of benefits that make up for it! Hoover has a lower cost of living than most places near the city, so it can be easy to find cheaper apartments. It has arguably the most outdoor recreation activities and green areas out of all the listed neighborhoods, so it’s a great neighborhood to retreat into and relax. Additionally, it is less crowded than the city, which means it’s quieter.
Review:
Overall, Hoover is a pretty great neighborhood, but it does rely on using your car to get around. Like most neighborhoods, traffic can be bad during 4-5, but if you can plan around that, it won’t be a problem. The best part of Hoover is its surrounding attractions like Aldrige Gardens, Riverchase Galleria, Moss Rock Preserve, and Library Theatre. The longer drive does not discourage most people from choosing to live in Hoover because of its greenery and cheaper housing.
Apartments:
● The Onyx
● Haven
● Ridge Crossing
● The Avenues of South Hoover