Sunset Over the Coosa River, 2019
Southside’s story
176 years in pictures
Census counts: 436 in 1960, 9,426 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2019 and 2 maps from 1947 on.
- 1850Southside is settled
SouthsideAL
A town of 9,718, settled in 1850.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: CarolinePope22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
9,718
2025 Census estimate · +2.9% since 2020
Typical home
$275K
+1.3% in a year
Household income
$76K
median
Median age
41.8
years
Jobs based here
922
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#25 of 187 in AL
Is Southside a good place to live?
Southside is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades A− overall, 25th among Alabama's 187 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is safety: crime is low: it reports less per resident than 89% of U.S. towns. It also does better than most on schools: its public schools beat 74% of Alabama towns on state tests and graduation. A typical home there costs about $275K, 5 years of the Gadsden metro’s $55K median household income. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. Only 4 of the 138 Alabama towns we compare have a lower violent offense rate than Southside. Southside's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 84% of U.S. towns.
What makes Southside stand out
Where Southside beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Southside0.3
Alabama3.5
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
91% less violent crime than AL
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Etowah County schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Southside Elementary School | PK–5 | 585 |
| Southside High School | 9–12 | 825 |
SchoolsB+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A growing town
Southside has grown 15% since 2010
8,412 counted in 2010 and 9,426 in 2020; an estimated 9,718 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Southside grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Southside is from typical.
SafetyAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6 of 20; 1.4% of households have no car; 0.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsB+Open →Jobs & income$76K median household incomeB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthRiverview Regional Medical Center 7.9 miles awayBOpen →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 1% conserved landDOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life0.5 library visits per resident; 1.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Southside: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Southside, and how to reach them.
PowerAlabama Power17.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSouthside Water Works and Sewer BoardNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Southside’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereEtowah County Circuit ClerkEtowah County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP codes35907, 3590535907 98% · 35905 1%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Southside.
Southside looks healthier within Alabama than nationally and sends most of its workers to Gadsden and beyond, but it has little public open land.
SafetyA
Property crime in Southside is lower than in the typical Alabama or U.S. town
Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
89%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Southside0.3
Alabama3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Southside3.6
Alabama15
U.S.15.5
89th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
99th
percentile among AL towns
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
35
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB+
Southside’s grade for schools is a B+
The Etowah County school district runs its public schools. The largest public high school is Southside High School, with 825 students. Its two schools are below.
74%of AL districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 585 | A |
| Southside High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 825 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
For most of its workers, the job is outside Southside
Southside has 922 jobs for its 3,365 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
For working residents in Southside, the share who work locally is 5.4%. Since 2013, Southside has added 204 jobs, to 922 in 2023. The share of residents in Southside who live below the poverty line is 4.4%, below both Alabama’s towns (16%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). The top destinations are Gadsden (29%), Rainbow City (7%) and Anniston (5%).
5%work in town
| Southside | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.4% | 10% | 8% |
| Median household income | $76,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Southside5%
Gadsden29%
Rainbow City7%
Anniston5%
Birmingham4%
12 mi
median commute distance
922
jobs based in Southside
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 19% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
90°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–56°
Spring50–74°
Summer68–89°
Fall51–75°
Nov 13
typical first frost
Mar 19
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
90°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B−
Southside’s grade for cost of living is a B−
A home in Southside typically sold within 43 days of listing. The share of households in Southside who live in a home they own is 93%, where Alabama’s towns sit at 69% and U.S. towns at 73%. The typical home value locally is about $275,000, up 1.3% in a year, 15% above the Alabama typical home.
$275KZillow home value
| Southside | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 93% | 69% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,184 a month | $940 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Southside$275K
Alabama$239K
Market temperature
43
days on market
96.6%
sale-to-list price
+1.3%
value change, 1 year
11
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Natural hazards: high risk in Southside, mostly inland flooding
Compared with 62% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in Southside is higher. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2018. FEMA puts 44% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 37% to tornadoes. Also worth knowing: the town has had one paid flood insurance claim since 2015.
62risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2015
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB
Residents of Southside are healthier than 58% of U.S. towns
Within Alabama it is healthier than 78% of the 187 graded towns: much of Alabama scores lower on these measures. Its widest gap with Alabama is food insecurity: 10.6% of its 7,389 adults worry about having enough food, against 19.2% statewide.
Of 32 CDC measures, Southside beats the Alabama average on 11 and trails it on 1. Among adults in the town, 41% sleep under 7 hours.
58%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Southside | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 19% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 40% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 43% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
11 better20 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Southside | AL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 19.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.4% | 9.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 8.2% |
Riverview Regional Medical Center
7.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
78th
percentile among AL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Who lives here
No age group stands out in Southside against Alabama
By age, Southside looks like Alabama: each broad group is within 4 points. Four-year graduates: 23% of adults 25 and older here, 28% across Alabama. In Southside, just over a fifth of residents are 65 or older. The town has grown 2.9% since 2020, to 9,718 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
41.8median age · AL 39.3
| Southside | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 18% | 18% |
| Median age | 41.8 years | 39.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 24% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 23% | 23% | 29% |
SouthsideAlabamaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school34%
Some college22%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s13%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across Alabama, 51.4% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 61% are men (AL 41%).
| Southside | AL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.4% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.3% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.7% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.6% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.4% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.9% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.3% | 10.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.4% | 7.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6% | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 33.9% | 30.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.8% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15.1% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 13% | 17.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.3% | 11.1% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsD
Protected land: 1.1% of Southside
Just 132 of its 12,292 acres are conserved, so there is little public open land in Southside itself; its outdoors grade is D.
One park or preserve covers 1 acres in Southside.
1.1%conserved
1.1%
conserved · 132 of 12,292 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Barneyhood Stadium | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Cheaha Mountain and 6 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Southside. Close and well known come first.
30 mi MountainCheaha Mountain
22 mi MuseumInternational Motorsports Hall of Fame
10 mi WaterfallNoccalula Falls Park
33 mi National PreserveLittle River Canyon National Preserve782K visitors a year
19 mi National MonumentFreedom Riders National Monument
7 mi City parkJanney Furnace ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cheaha Mountain: Amann09 (talk · contribs), Public domain · International Motorsports Hall of Fame: BWard 1997, CC BY 4.0 · Noccalula Falls Park: Thejammer (talk), Public domain · Little River Canyon National Preserve: Richard A. Weaver, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Freedom Riders National Monument: Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Janney Furnace Park: dofftoubab, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Southside
19pages on Southside
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 74% of AL districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA0.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than AL on 11 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$275K typical home · up 1.3% in a yearWork & commuteB+$76K median household income · 922 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 62% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Southside
About 3 of every 100 Southside residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Southside for work
Where Southside’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
922jobs based in Southside
5%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Southside
City in Alabama, United States
Southside is a city located in Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is included in the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. It incorporated in 1957. As of the 2020 census, Southside had a population of 9,426. It is located 8 to 12 miles (13 to 19 km) south of downtown Gadsden.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1850
- Area
- 19 sq mi
- Elevation
- 620 ft
- Area code
- 256
Southside’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Southside.
How the neighbors grade
Glencoe reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Southside with a neighbor →
Questions about Southside
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Southside, AL a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Southside grades A− overall, better than 79% of U.S. towns and #25 of 187 in Alabama. It grades B for health, A for safety and B+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Southside, AL expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.