Fountain Heights is the heart of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. The area is filled with monuments and cultural centers that celebrate its history. There’s also plenty of room for fun, with many restaurants and nightlife spots within walking distance.
The southern half of the neighborhood has apartments and condos, some in modern buildings and others in historic brick ones that can date back to the 1910s. They can range from the lower $200,000s to the lower $500,000s. Roughly 80% of residents are renters. There are also a handful of single-family investment properties in the northern half of the area that often go from around $25,000 to about $60,000. That part of town is “in the path of progress,” says Chris Prichard, a Realtor with EXP Realty LLC, adding that it is a good spot for first-time buyers. The neighborhood’s average home value is higher than in neighborhoods to the west and north, but lower than in Central City and Parkside.
Fountain Heights was central to Birmingham’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. The neighborhood’s Fourth Avenue Historic District was home to many businesses, and movement leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth came to the area to campaign and hold strategy meetings in the A.G. Gaston Motel. Today, many of the area’s historic buildings, like 16th Street Baptist Church, are still standing, and public spaces like Kelly Ingram Park showcase Civil Rights monuments. The neighborhood’s sidewalks and grid-like streets make getting around on foot easy. Medium-sized trees line many of the roads. The community’s median age is close to 40, and its population under 18 and population over 65 are both below the national average.
Residents have several places to relax, both inside and just outside of the neighborhood. City Walk BHAM sits underneath Interstate 20 and stretches from Fountain Heights into Central City. The Fountain Heights section includes pickleball courts, a food truck court, a skate park, a roller-skating rink and an amphitheater. “It’s a great use of space and a gathering spot,” Prichard says. Kelly Ingram Park offers walking paths and benches in addition to its Civil Rights monuments, and Linn Park has similar amenities. The Fountain Heights Recreation Center has a multi-purpose gym with basketball hoops as well as an outdoor hardcourt often used for bike polo, a variation of the horseback sport.
A few blocks south in Parkside, Railroad Park features two playgrounds, outdoor workout equipment, several walking paths and picnic areas. The park hosts area events and is home to Michael’s Restaurant, also known as the Boxcar Cafe, which sells sandwiches, drinks and snacks from April through October.
MAX Transit buses make stops throughout the neighborhood. The company’s Magic City Connector bus line can take riders from the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, on the eastern edge of the neighborhood, to the Five Points South restaurant scene or to downtown Homewood. Residents with cars can easily hop on interstates 65 and 20 to get across the city and beyond. With regular traffic, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is about 15 minutes away, and Huntsville is less than a 2-hour drive.
There are plenty of things to do within Fountain Heights, whether people are interested in entertainment or education. Options include:
The neighborhood has many restaurants that are highly regarded, especially between 5th Avenue and 1st Avenue:
The neighborhood is zoned for Birmingham City Schools, though no schools sit within the community. The area is home to the Alabama School of Fine Arts, a highly rated, state-funded public academy for grades seven through 12. The state’s CHOOSE Act of 2024 sends eligible families funds to cover private school tuition, usually between $2,000 and $7,000. All families will be eligible for the scholarship before the 2027-2028 school year.
Minnie Rivera
Keller Williams Realty Hoover
(659) 207-2612
102 Total Sales
1 in Fountain Heights
$190,000 Price
Chris Prichard
eXp Realty, LLC Central
(205) 946-4514
36 Total Sales
2 in Fountain Heights
$88K - $200K Price Range
Chris Vonderau
RE/MAX Advantage
(659) 207-5927
109 Total Sales
1 in Fountain Heights
$329,900 Price
Christa Moore
Keller Williams Pell City
(659) 348-0183
24 Total Sales
1 in Fountain Heights
$192,000 Price
Grant Linhart
Southern Harbor Properties
(888) 443-1569
121 Total Sales
2 in Fountain Heights
$183K - $360K Price Range
Alvin Johnson
JRC Realty Group, Inc.
(205) 236-4266
48 Total Sales
2 in Fountain Heights
$28K - $55K Price Range
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Fountain Heights | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 7 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Fountain Heights, Birmingham sell after 134 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Fountain Heights, Birmingham over the last 12 months is $229,000, up 157% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
|
Median List Price
$309,900
|
Median Sale Price
$229,000
|
|
Median Single Family Sale Price
$55,000
|
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$423,000
|
|
Median Change From 1st List Price
14%
|
Last 12 months Home Sales
17
|
|
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
157%
|
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$303
|
|
Number of Homes
411
|
Number of Homes for Sale
12
|
|
Median Year Built
1921
|
Months of Supply
8.50
|
|
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,519
Significantly below the national average
1,934
|
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,311
|
|
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
845
|
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
|
$949 - $1,999 per month
$1,150 - $1,980 per month
|
Number of Homes for Rent
25
|
Median Rent
$1,845
|
|
Median Single Family Home Rent
$1,870
|
Median 3 Bedroom Single Family Home Rent
$2,110
|
|
Median Condo Rent
$1,845
|
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$2,544
|
|
Total Population
2,736
|
Median Age
41
|
|
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
|
Population under 18
18.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
|
|
Population over 65
17.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
|
|
|
Median Household Income
$41,250
Significantly below the national average
$79,597
|
Average Household Income
$49,098
|
|
High School Graduates
79.6%
Below the national average
89%
|
College Graduates
24.1%
Below the national average
34.1%
|
|
Advanced Degrees
13%
|
% Population in Labor Force
59.5%
|
|
Annual Precipitation
57''
|
Average Winter Low Temperature
35°F
|
|
Average Summer High Temperature
91°F
|
Annual Snowfall
1''
|
Bikeability
Walkability
Transit
Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Culture, food and convenience in downtown Birmingham
First-time homes overlooking Birmingham's hip entertainment district
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A walkable pocket of Birmingham packed with restaurants, breweries and attractions
Historic bungalows and ranch-style homes two miles from Downtown Bham
This Birmingham neighborhood is small in size, but huge in history
