Best area to live in birmingham (Hoover, Bessemer: townhouse, neighborhoods, restaurants)

[jvnave]

hi. my husband, daughter and i are getting ready to move to birmingham and were wondering if you all could offer some guidance on the best areas to live for families. We enjoy walking and would love a safe, afforable, neighborhood that is close to shops and restaurants. Thank you.

[Twostep]

Originally Posted by jvnave

hi. my husband, daughter and i are getting ready to move to birmingham and were wondering if you all could offer some guidance on the best areas to live for families. We enjoy walking and would love a safe, afforable, neighborhood that is close to shops and restaurants. Thank you.

Too much going on today. Have you read through some of the older posts. They are fairly informative. Especially a number of links to local info. Give me some details. I will gladly "talk" to you tomorrow.

[MrJP]

As a general rule, think South, as in over the mountian, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, etc. Or possiblly East, Irondale, Moody, Leeds.

[slwesson]

My daughter and her family live in Trussville, Al. It is a very nice town for families and has great shopping too. It is a great area for re-sale also.

[jtla]

Wow. So much depends on things like a ballpark budget for a house, your idea of "close," where you'll work, etc. Hoover probably has the greatest diversity in terms of house price and population. You can find a 3 BR/2 BA townhouse for just over $100K or a single family home for about $140K. Most of the shopping is clustered loosly along I-459 from Trussville to Hoover. Outside of downtown, I think most places are considered "safe."

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by jtla

Wow. So much depends on things like a ballpark budget for a house, your idea of "close," where you'll work, etc. Hoover probably has the greatest diversity in terms of house price and population. You can find a 3 BR/2 BA townhouse for just over $100K or a single family home for about $140K. Most of the shopping is clustered loosly along I-459 from Trussville to Hoover. Outside of downtown, I think most places are considered "safe."

Except for Ensley. And much of Bessemer. And Brighton.

[silverspeak]

Originally Posted by jvnave

hi. my husband, daughter and i are getting ready to move to birmingham and were wondering if you all could offer some guidance on the best areas to live for families. We enjoy walking and would love a safe, afforable, neighborhood that is close to shops and restaurants. Thank you.

This depends alot on what you want. Walkability for most over the mountain neighborhoods is severly impaired. Alot of people write off the north side of the mountain communities based on antiquated ideas about the area. South Avondale, Forest Park, Crestline, etc are all safe, great communities, especially if you want a place with restaurants within walking distance. They also have a near monopoly on most of the historic (particularly victorian) houses in the city. There are of course exceptions (mountain brook and redmont park have excellent housing).

We'll need to know alittle more about you and what you're after. Generally speaking, the further over the mountain you go, the more cookie-cutter the options become, both in terms of housing and restaurant options.

[wandarose]

Did you know that many areas in greater Birmingham are quite hilly? So when you say walking are you interested in a walk around the block or local parks, state parks?

[pearlieBOBbieQ]

hands down, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Indian Springs-south, maybe some of Riverhcase, Helena, Alabaster, and of course Pelham---we have property off of US 280 and St Rd 119- it's still a nice nice area

[niquey17]

Originally Posted by jvnave

hi. My husband, daughter and i are getting ready to move to birmingham and were wondering if you all could offer some guidance on the best areas to live for families. We enjoy walking and would love a safe, afforable, neighborhood that is close to shops and restaurants. Thank you.

anywhere except ensley some parts of bessemer is ok