Graysville is growing, just outside Birmingham
The agricultural community of Graysville, settled in the 1800s, was once known as Gin Town because it had one of the area’s few cotton gins. Today, it is still mostly rural here, with vast forests broken up by pockets of suburban development and a small historic downtown. Top industries include education, health care, social assistance and construction; many locals commute to Birmingham, less than 20 miles away, for work. “It’s a good investment area,” says Realtor Ben Davis of Spartan Realty, who has over a decade of experience. “The location in relation to Birmingham and the industry there is a draw, as are the lower prices.”
Classic 20th century homes sell for under $300,000
Homes come in a variety of classic 20th century styles, including Traditional, Cape Cod, Craftsman, split-level and ranch. Prices start under $100,000 and go up to about $280,000. Davis says flipping is common, as is renovating to rent. About 30% of residents are renters. “A lot of investors are interested, but it also appeals to first-time buyers,” he says. Jefferson County sits in Dixie Alley, a region in which tornadoes occur with moderate frequency. Fivemile Creek and others in the area are prone to flooding.
Jefferson County Schools serve Graysville
The Jefferson County Schools system serves Graysville. Limited school transfer options are available. While the exact path students follow varies by address, most youngsters attend Minor Community School for preschool through fifth grade before continuing to Minor Middle and Minor High for eighth through 12th. The elementary and middle schools earn C grades from Niche. The high school, which offers the Academy of Law, Arts & Business and the Academy of Medicine, Automotive & Construction specialty programs, gets a C-plus.
Outdoor recreation in the Graysville area
Baseball fields and pocket parks are scattered throughout the community. The Maurice C. West Community Center, which hosts youth, adult and senior fitness and social programs, is in the heart of downtown, not far from the Graysville Public Library and city hall. Mountain View Golf Course is a James Thursby-designed, 18-hole course in the hills between Blossburg and Brookside. To the north, Sayre Speedway is a quarter-mile oval track that holds regular races and demolition derbies.
Limited shopping/dining on Interstate 22 and U.S. Route 78
Interstate 22, U.S. Route 78 and other main roads in the area are lined with gas stations, farm equipment retailers and convenience stores. There’s a Dollar General and a Food Giant on the south side of town, near dining options like Jack’s Family Restaurant, a fast-food chain, and Woodbury’s Food for the Soul, a locally owned diner. “If you’re local, you do your real shopping in Birmingham,” Davis says.
Close highway access means quick commuting to Birmingham
U.S. Route 78, State Road 5 and Interstate 22 connect around the county. The under 20-mile drive to Birmingham, which has big regional employers like the Alabama Power Company and the University of Alabama’s Birmingham campus and healthcare facilities, typically takes about 20 minutes on either I-22 or Route 78. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, on the north side of the capital city, is about the same distance from most homes.
