$219,588Average Value$236Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
West Florence is the birthplace of the "Father of the Blues"
W.C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues," was born in a small log cabin in the heart of historic West Florence. Today, Handy's childhood home on West College Street serves as a museum and library full of personal essays and artifacts. The iconic composer's influence is palpable across Florence. His name adorns community centers, and the massive W.C. Handy Music Festival celebrates his legacy. West Florence residents live within walking distance of many of the 10-day festival's events, alongside downtown Florence and the University of North Alabama. Its location and history are key draws to the neighborhood. "It's in a quaint portion of the city where you have easy access to downtown, where there are thriving businesses, restaurants and retail stores," says local Realtor Stephanie Tanner of Re/Max Tri-State. She has sold across the region for eight years. "It's good for people looking for in-town property to be close to sporting events or if they have a child at the University."
Historic homes and mid-century ranches
Most homes were built in the early to mid-1900s along narrow, hilly streets. "There are more historic homes in this area," Tanner says. "Some original homes are at least 60 to 80 years old. Some, probably even 100." Ranch styles, bungalows and cottages are among the neighborhood's most popular housing styles, and there are several custom-built homes along Riverview Drive. Several homes need a few repairs, and Tanner says it's a popular community for investment properties. Housing values vary widely, but homes north of West College Street tend to list from $20,000 to $200,000. Homes south of West College Street are typically larger and sell at higher prices. They list anywhere between $160,000 and $430,000. A few homes along Riverview Drive, while they rarely hit the market, can sell between $500,000 and $610,000. Construction is underway for a massive development project called West Village. It will bring new single-family homes, townhomes and apartments to the area, along with various businesses. Construction is in its early stages.
Events at the MacFarland Parks and days by the Tennessee River
Residents can access the Tennessee River at MacFarland Park, located directly south of the community. The park features a small beach area with views of the O'Neal Bridge and a boat ramp with several slips. Other park amenities include playgrounds, walking paths, a disc golf course and a soccer field. MacFarland Park is also a center for city-wide events, including the W.C. Handy Music Festival, a huge event full of music, block parties and acoustic sessions celebrating Handy's musical legacy. There are also several disc golf and fishing tournaments. The Handy Recreation Center reopens in May 2025 after a $2.6-million renovation project. The reopening will debut new activity rooms, a renovated locker room and a computer space. The center also features an outdoor, seasonal pool.
Plates at Bunyan's and heading to downtown Florence
While minimally commercial, West Florence is home to Bunyan's Bar-B-Q – a family-operated barbecue spot that's been around for decades. Visitors can grab a dinner plate with chicken or pork and sides like potato salad or slaw. Chicken stew can be ordered by the gallon and the barbecue by the pound. Plus, locals love the homemade sauce. Historical attractions, boutiques and galleries sit between restaurants like Odette and Yum Thai in downtown Florence. Downtown is also home to First Fridays, a popular monthly event with live music, art and sidewalk performances. Wilson's Food Center offers groceries at the heart of the community, and big-box stores like Walmart Neighborhood Market and ShopRite are 3 miles away.
Florence City Schools earns high remarks on Niche
The Florence City School District scores an overall A on Niche and is Alabama's second-most diverse school district. Sam C. Harlan Elementary School scores a B-minus on Niche, Hibbett Intermediate School has an A-minus, and Florence Middle School has an A-minus. The Florence Freshman Center serves ninth graders before they head to Florence High School for tenth through twelfth grade; both schools sit on the same campus and score a B-plus on Niche. The high school offers several student organizations, from chess and French clubs to FBLA and theater. The University of North Alabama, sitting just outside the community, offers various bachelor's degrees, including a B.S. in biology and a B.A. in mass communication.
Navigating Florence
West Florence is car-dependent. It's about 5 miles north of Muscle Shoals, connected by Lee Highway. The North Alabama Medical Center is about 3 miles east, and the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is a 7-mile trip.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jerry Dean,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
McFarland Park
West Florence Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in West Florence, Florence sell after 7 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in West Florence, Florence over the last 12 months is $391,224.
GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! This three bedroom 1.5 bath home has new floors, new plumbing, and an income of $950 per month!!! Great features throughout, including a laundry room and half bath off the master bedroom! The windows, roof, and HVAC are all 9-11 years old!!! Great open space from the living room to kitchen! This home even includes the lot next to it! Plenty of space for a great yard,
THIS IS A CUTE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER PROPERTY...NEW ROOF, HAVC, FLOORING, FIXTURES, PAINT AND APPLIANCES.. MINUTES FROM A UNIVERSITY! **Listing Agent is related to the seller**
SOLD AS IS. This 2 bedroom 1 bath home needs a little tendering loving care. Vinyl siding is in good condtion, The owners are also including the lot next to the house to be sold with the purchase of the home Extra lot parcel # 24-05-15-2-005-025.000
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jerry Dean,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,957
Median Age
37
Population under 18
28.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$24,999
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$44,924
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
80%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
26.4%
Advanced Degrees
9.5%
% Population in Labor Force
38.5%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
58/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
56/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
