Smithfield, one of Birmingham’s oldest neighborhoods, is preparing for significant revitalization efforts. The community has historic homes and a location next to downtown areas like Fountain Heights, as well as Legion Field. Restaurants and bars line the eastern side of the area.
The neighborhood has several shotgun-style homes and bungalows with traditional and Craftsman-style exteriors, many of which were built in the 1930s. Residents tend to stay in their homes for a long time. There are also investment properties available. Homes can range from about $40,000 to the mid-$100,000s, with a median sale price around $75,000. Those prices are well below those in other parts of the Birmingham Metro Area.
Smithfield’s location is a plus for many. “It’s very convenient to downtown, it’s right next to it,” says James Faulkner, a Realtor with RealtySouth who sells homes across Birmingham. Faulkner adds that the area is just a few miles from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which is best known for its medical programs. Residents can take MAX Transit buses that run through the neighborhood along Graymont Avenue North and Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is about a 15-minute drive with regular traffic.
While Smithfield is one of Birmingham’s oldest communities, the city is attempting to bring it into the present. “It’s a neighborhood where some redevelopment is happening,” Faulker says. The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District received a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant in 2023, and the city will use that money to revitalize Smithfield as well as neighborhoods like Graymont and College Hills. Plans include the addition of mixed-income housing and mixed-use developments. The city will also plant more trees in the area and add bike lanes to roads, among other improvements. Phase one of the long-term revitalization is expected to break ground in spring 2026, with phase two beginning in 2027.
The community is a few blocks east of Legion Field, which hosts the annual Magic City Classic football game between Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University. The event typically draws around 60,000 fans and serves as an economic driver for the area. Other nearby recreation spaces include:
The neighborhood is zoned for Birmingham City Schools, including the community’s own A.H. Parker High School, which offers the Academy of Urban Educators. The program prepares students for a career in early childhood education. Alabama's CHOOSE Act of 2024 awards eligible families with between $2,000 and $7,000 to use on private school tuition. All families will be eligible for the award by the 2027-2028 school year. Nearby private schools include Ephesus Academy, which serves students from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
Several restaurants and bars sit near the eastern border of the community. Options include:
Janice Smith
Dominion Property Services, In
(659) 204-4647
116 Total Sales
1 in Smithfield
$60,000 Price
Donna Savage
RealtySouth-MB-Crestline
(205) 946-1021
66 Total Sales
1 in Smithfield
$243,500 Price
Timothy Taylor
Barnes & Associates
(205) 900-1145
184 Total Sales
1 in Smithfield
$153,000 Price
Cliff Glansen
Flatfee.com Inc.
(754) 755-8484
5,548 Total Sales
2 in Smithfield
$20K - $59K Price Range
Abra Barnes
Barnes & Associates
(659) 207-4084
100 Total Sales
3 in Smithfield
$50K - $400K Price Range
Matthew Lepore
Keller Williams Realty Vestavia
(205) 946-0085
155 Total Sales
1 in Smithfield
$96,900 Price
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Smithfield | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 8 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Smithfield, Birmingham sell after 224 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Smithfield, Birmingham over the last 12 months is $75,000, down 66% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Historic neighborhood in the Smithfield community, 2 miles west of Downtown Bham
Downtown Birmingham neighborhood with older homes and new apartments
A Birmingham neighborhood with historic homes close to downtown amenities
Culture, food and convenience in downtown Birmingham
Historic homes in the rolling hills just 2 miles west of Downtown Birmingham
Historic bungalows and ranch-style homes two miles from Downtown Bham