Birmingham Neighborhood Guide, Part One: Living in Homewood, Alabama

When we decided Birmingham would be our home, we knew there were things that were super important to us...

I should take this time to assure you it was the Christmas Parade that sealed the deal... children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, townspeople, pets... all lined up on the sidewalks through the neighborhood... cheering for the local youth sports teams, local nonprofits and businesses...

And then... the high school marching band. Our band is kind of a big deal!

All this to say, it wasn't just the parade (it kinda was) but also the sidewalk lined streets, the quaint downtown shopping and dining area, the parks, the playgrounds, the whole community coming out to celebrate... it was tangible...

We stretched our budget, we found our home, we raised our family here and have never looked back.

That was 2003. I'm still here. And if you're thinking about Homewood — whether you're relocating, upsizing, right-sizing, or just beginning to look — I want to tell you what I've learned after more than twenty years in this community.

This is Part One of a series I'm writing on Birmingham's best neighborhoods. I'm starting here because this one is home.

What Makes Homewood Different

Homewood sits just inside the city of Birmingham, on the south side of Red Mountain, and it manages something a lot of suburbs don't: it feels like a real, small town, all its own. It's not a collection of subdivisions or a bedroom community you pass through on the way somewhere else. It's a place where you know your neighbors, walk to coffee, run into people at the grocery store, and actually stop to talk.

The school system is independent — Homewood has its own school district, separate from Jefferson County and Birmingham City Schools. That matters to a lot of people who move here, and it's worth knowing from the start.

There are also four distinct neighborhoods within Homewood, and they don't feel exactly alike. Knowing the difference helps you figure out which part of Homewood fits your life right now.

The Four Neighborhoods Within Homewood

Hollywood

Hollywood is the oldest part of Homewood, with Spanish Revival architecture from the 1920s and 1930s, traditional Tudors and a later built ranch style home here and there. The streets are quiet and tree-lined, and fairly convenient to Highway 280. If you want history built into the bones of the house, you are in the right place. These are the homes that people fall in love with at first sight and then spend decades updating and protecting.

Edgewood

Edgewood is the most walkable part of Homewood. You've got Edgewood Village and The Strip within easy reach, bungalows that have been renovated and loved over decades, and Edgewood Elementary right in the heart of the neighborhood. It's a part of town where people actually walk to and from their destinations... whether it be coffee, dinner, the park... whatever... and one of the reasons Homewood is such a popular community.

Mayfair

Mayfair is mid-century Homewood (with a scattering of bungalows and Tudors thrown in for good measure), close to Overton Park. It's a quieter pocket with mature trees and a neighborhood feel that has held up beautifully. If Overton Park matters to you (and it should, it's one of the best green spaces in the city), you enjoy proximity to lots of the local eateries and boutiques and established neighborhoods, this is the area is for you.

West Homewood

West Homewood tends to offer more house for the money than the other areas of Homewood, and has lots of opportunity to find a home that was well loved for a long time and to make it your own. Patriot Park and the Homewood Athletic Complex are here, and the community feel is strong. It's where a lot of people land when they want Homewood schools and Homewood community but need more square footage at their price point. It is also an area that is extremely walkable and offers several great restaurants, green spaces, and community gathering spots.

Homewood City Schools

One of the most common questions I get from people considering Homewood: tell me about the schools.

The schools here are amazing and have consistently ranked at the top of the state's list year after year. Homewood City Schools is its own district — about 4,200 students total. The high school runs around 1,200 students and holds a 96% graduation rate. At the elementary level, you're looking at Edgewood, Hall-Kent, and Shades Cahaba, depending on where you live. There are also strong private options in the area: Our Lady of Sorrows, John Carroll, and Advent Episcopal are all nearby.

For a lot of people, the school district is what brings them to Homewood in the first place. It's worth knowing that it's not just good — it's consistently good, year after year.

Where to Eat, Shop, and Spend Time in Homewood

I've been eating, shopping, and spending time in Homewood for nearly 30 years. These are the places I actually go.

For food: Shiki is where I go for sushi. Soho Social is the neighborhood spot that does everything well. Sam's Deli is a lunch staple. Saw's BBQ is the place you take someone who doesn't understand Alabama barbecue yet. Little Donkey does tacos, and for dessert, choose absolutely any cookie from Cookie Fix and you can't lose. ZoZo's is my answer for a weeknight dinner I didn't want to cook. We frequent Pizzeria GM for Italian. Local 39 for a casual, intimate restaurant and bar that has become one of our favorites — and is a perfect spot to catch your favorite sporting event on tv while enjoying some of the best wings around.

For coffee and bakeries: O'Henry's has been a staple in Homewood forever and deserves all the praise it receives. Full Circle Doughnuts is the kind of spot you enjoy showing visiting friends... it's so unique and puts such a creative twist on breakfast and lunch. Edgar's Bakery is always the right call for a birthday cake or a lingering late breakfast. And please do not overlook The Frothy Monkey... what a remarkable team and menu they offer.

For shopping: Alabama Outdoors is essential if you use Jemison Trail, Red Mountain Park, or Oak Mountain. Homewood Toy & Hobby got a lot of our time when the boys were little. The Cottage Basket is one of my favorite spots to find thoughtful gifts. At Home Furnishings and Wild Things if you're looking for something a little different for the house. And please make sure to visit Sweet Peas Garden Shop — it's one of the neatest, small local nurseries I have ever visited and they are so knowledgeable.

For green space: Homewood has Patriot Park, Overton Park, Homewood Central Park, and SpringPark, all close by. And Lakeshore Foundation is here... one of the most respected adaptive sports facilities in the country. Red Mountain Park is minutes away, and if you haven't spent a Saturday morning on those trails, that's worth fixing. We have also spent many hours on the Homewood Shades Creek Greenway (known by most locals as the Lakeshore Trail)... it is a perfect training course if you are into running, biking or walking.

Homewood Real Estate in 2026: What to Expect

Homewood real estate doesn't sit on the market long when it's priced right. That hasn't changed.

The original builds — smaller square footage, real character, authentic details — tend to start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range and go up from there depending on the lot and what's been done to the house, lot size and exact location (though for the most part, if it's in Homewood, that is typically all that's needed!). Entry-level updated homes are generally coming in between $400,000 and $600,000. The established, well-renovated homes run $525,000 (smaller but updated) to $800,000 — more than $1,000,000. Premium properties — larger lots, significant builds, the best streets — go well above that.

Appreciation has been running around 4 to 7 percent annually. It's steady and real, not speculative.

What that means practically: if you're coming from Atlanta or Nashville, Homewood's price points are still going to feel like a meaningful value compared to what you'd pay for a comparable home in a comparable neighborhood there. And you get the schools and the community on top of it... never mind the proximity to all things downtown and the other suburbs that make up the metropolitan area.

If you're already in Birmingham and thinking about a move, Homewood tends to hold its value better than many other metropolitan communities. That's not an accident. The combination of the school district, the walkable commercial areas, and the neighborhood character and the central location, makes it one of the most consistently in-demand pockets in the entire Birmingham Metro.

Which Part of Homewood Is Right for You

Here's what I tell people when they're trying to decide: you're not choosing between small-town feel and city access. In Homewood, you get both, and you don't have to drive much or far to get either.

The question is really about where you want to be when you walk out your front door.

If you want to walk to coffee and dinner, Edgewood makes a lot of sense (though there are other areas of Homewood that offer a somewhat similar structure). If you want historic streets and original architecture, Hollywood is the answer. If Overton Park, slightly larger lots and an established feel, Mayfair puts it right there. If you want more house for the money, West Homewood delivers and is really putting itself on the map for fast growth.

Every version of Homewood comes with the same, wonderful schools, the same community, the same local eateries and watering holes and yes — the same Christmas Parade. The specific, drilled down, neighborhood just determines which corner of it becomes yours.

I've been doing this for a long time. Homewood is where I work every day and where I've lived since 2003. If you're trying to figure out where to land in Birmingham — or whether Homewood makes more sense for you than Mountain Brook or Vestavia Hills — that's one of my favorite conversations to have... while I have a deep love for Homewood, sometimes it's just not the right fit. The good news is that Birmingham really does offer it all.

You can reach me at maryreeddurkin.com, or comment TALK and I'll get back to you.

Part Two of the Birmingham Neighborhood Guide is coming next week.