Boaz, a city on the Sand Mountain plateau in Northeast Alabama’s Marshall County, has undergone substantial change. In the 1980s, it was home to more than 100 outlet stores that attracted around five million shoppers each year. Though the outlets slowly lost customers over the years and have since closed or moved elsewhere, the town adapted. Today, the city has more than 10,000 residents, many of whom work in the automotive and rail manufacturing industries. Boaz, named for a Biblical character, has several churches that remain a large part of its community.
The town is close to Albertville, a shopping and recreation hub, and Guntersville, a vacation destination on Guntersville Lake. “There’s a lot of business coming to Marshall County, with a Target and steakhouses and other restaurants,” says Rachel Weiss, an associate broker with Weiss Realty LLC. “In Boaz, you have access to all of that.”
There are some shops in the once bustling downtown area of Boaz, Alabama.
Many of the residential streets in Boaz, Alabama have large lawns and many large trees.
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New Traditional homes for below-median prices
The median price of a Boaz home is around $210,000, slightly below the state median, and they stay on the market for about 50 days on average. But that median price is higher than it has been in the past. “The market value, overall, is ridiculously up over the last three to five years,” Weiss says. New Traditional houses are spread throughout the city, and patio homes are also available.
New Traditional style homes are the most common style for newer construction homes in Boaz, Alabama.
Ranch style homes are amongst the most common style for homes in Boaz, Alabama.
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Convenient travel to Albertville and Guntersville on U.S. Route 431
U.S. Route 431 runs through the eastern side of the city. It can take drivers to Albertville, about 5 miles away, or to Guntersville, around 15 miles away. “All of 431 can get jammed up at busy times of day, but it clears pretty fast since it is a four-lane highway,” Weiss says. Huntsville is nearly 55 miles northwest. Huntsville International Airport, nearly 70 miles away, has flights to several U.S. destinations. Marshall Medical Center South is a 150-bed hospital with a Level III emergency department.
Boaz High School serves the 9th through 12th grades in Boaz, Alabama.
Huntsville International Airport is the closest airport to Boaz, Alabama.
Hwy 431 is the main thoroughfare through Boaz, Alabama and is where most shops and restaurants can be found.
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Boaz City Schools gets high marks
Students are served by Boaz City Schools, which holds a B-plus Niche grade. The district serves nearly 2,500 students across five schools. Boaz Middle School has an individual B-plus grade.
Boaz Middle School is a public secondary school in Boaz, Alabama.
Boaz High School serves the 9th through 12th grades in Boaz, Alabama.
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Possum Day brings the community together at Old Mill Park
Boaz’s historic downtown is filled with murals celebrating the city. The Boaz Legacy Museum tells the town's story through signs and artifacts.
Instead of Groundhog Day, Boaz celebrates Possum Day, with an opossum named Sand Mountain Sam taking the place of Punxsutawney Phil. Sam looks for his shadow at Old Mill Park, where food trucks and live music keep the event going all day.
The annual Boaz Harvest Festival, held each October, has more than 250 vendors of all kinds, plus a pageant and a moon pie-eating contest.
The Boaz Legacy Museum tells the history of Boaz through donations of it's residents.
Old Mill Park in Boaz, Alabama, has a walking trail, playground, several picnic pavilions, and a performance stage.
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Boaz Recreation Center has several athletic facilities
About 20% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, well below the urban U.S. median. Most of Boaz’s green spaces are small and used for recreation. Old Mill Park, opened in 2019, has a walking track, a splash pad and an amphitheater. Boaz Recreation Center has indoor athletic facilities including a gymnasium and a competition-size pool.
Old Mill Park in Boaz, Alabama has a new playground suitable for children in a broad range of ages.
Old Mill Park in the heart of Boaz, Alabama was constructed in 2019.
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The Emporium South has antique vendors
Though Boaz’s famed outlets are gone, the city still has local shopping. The Emporium South is a mall filled with antique vendors and home goods stores. Other boutiques are spread throughout the city, and box-big stores can be found in Albertville.
The town has a mix of local and chain restaurants. Boaz Cafe serves Southern comfort food, and the Mill Street Deli has sandwiches and wraps.
The Emporium South in Boaz, Alabama has a large number of vendors selling all manner of unique finds from clothing to housewares.
Wilson Fabric Outlet in Boaz, Alabama has everything you need to make clothes, curtains, pillows, and upholster furniture.
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A cooler climate than the rest of Alabama
Thanks to its location on the Sand Mountain plateau, Boaz and the rest of Marshall County have the coolest climate in the state, though summers are still long and humid. Winters are short but wet. Marshall County has a high risk of tornadoes and a moderate risk of ice storms and lightning. Boaz crime data is not readily available.
Rusty was raised here in Guntersville and graduated from GHS in 1998. He currently resides in the Spring Creek area and is a proud member of Compassion City Church. Rusty has one daughter, Alexis. He has been in real estate for over 8 years and decided to open his own brokerage firm in early 2020. Rusty’s passion is helping others buy or sell and has had great success. Call him today for all your real estate needs!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
