Southside 68 Good
Southside Livability #73 ranked city in Alabama#9,908 ranked city in the USARanks better than 66% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Southside

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Southside?

Southside, Alabama is a smaller city with a population of 8,981 people. If we look at the most recent Census, Southside is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Southside is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 25 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Are you trying to figure out if living in Southside is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before relocating to any new city in Alabama, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Southside and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, employment and other important metrics.

The livability score in Southside is 67/100 and the city is ranked in the 68th percentile of all cities across America. If we check out each of the categories individually, we see that Southside ranks well for crime (A+), cost of living (A+), employment (A-) and housing (A+). Southside does not fare well for the following: amenities (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 104 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Southside boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Southside has an unemployment rate of 2.3% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Southside can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Southside is real estate affordability. The median home price for Southside homes is $284,025, which is 20.6% higher than the Alabama average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Southside, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.7, which is 25% lower than the Alabama average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Southside

See all the best places to live around Southside

How Do You Rate The Livability In Southside?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Southside, AL Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Southside transportation information

      Statistic Southside Alabama National
      Average one way commute25min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work89.3%85.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool3.5%8.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.4%1.1%2.8%
      Working from home6.7%2.9%4.6%
      Source: The Southside, AL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.