College town with outdoorsy options nearby
Founded in 1833 and later named after President Andrew Jackson, Jacksonville is home to about 14,000 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The population in has increased about 15% since 2010. The city is also home to Jacksonville State University, one of the city’s largest employers. “A Honda plant is in Lincoln, which is another major employer for this area,” says Jeff Slick, a Realtor with Freedom Realty. “Many residents are working for Honda or Jacksonville State.” There’s an outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with residing in Jacksonville. “We are right next to Choccolocco Mountain, which is awesome if you’re into the outdoors,” Slick says. “North of Jacksonville is Little River Canyon (National Preserve), which is popular in the summertime.” Jacksonville’s highly-rated school system, community events and its downtown city square add to its appeal.
Median home prices are higher than in Anniston
The median home price in Jacksonville is about $215,000, significantly lower than the national median of $405,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. The price is higher than Anniston, a city just south of Jacksonville, with a median of $165,000. “The Jacksonville housing market is great compared to surrounding areas,” Slick says. Homes range from historic houses built in the mid-19th century to new construction in subdivisions like Waterford Valley. Most homes near the center of town are mid-20th-century, ranch-style properties.
Jacksonville City Schools and Jacksonville State University
Students are educated within Jacksonville City Schools, which earns an A-minus grade from Niche. The district serves about 1,600 students attending Kitty Stone Elementary and Jacksonville High schools. Jacksonville State has an enrollment of about 10,000 students and offers 46 undergraduate, 64 master’s and three doctoral programs. The school is known for its successful athletic program, which has won seven NCAA National Championships, including most recently in 2024 in both football and bowling.
Chief Ladiga Trail, Alabama’s first major rail-to-trail project
Jacksonville City Park is one of the more popular green spaces in the area, with a skate park, basketball courts and youth sports fields. Disc-golf players can visit the nine-hole Frog Town Disc Golf Course or the 18-hole Eastwood Park and Disc Golf Course. Germania Springs Park has a dog park, baseball fields and playgrounds. The Chief Ladiga Trail runs adjacent to Germania Springs and provides runners and bikers with a 34-mile paved trail. The trail was the first major rails-to-trails project in Alabama . Choccolocco Mountain is just east of the city, providing 450 acres of forest, trails, campgrounds, a pavilion and a children's playground. At Little River Canyon, visitors can hike, bird watch, fish, kayak or rock climb.
Shopping and dining in Downtown Jacksonville
Downtown Jacksonville is home to a variety of local restaurants and boutiques. Many of these businesses surround The Square, where events are held annually. Many chain restaurants can be found further south along Pelham Road. “For malls or mainstream stores, you’ll go to Oxford,” Slick says. Oxford is about 16 miles south of Jacksonville. The Community Actors Studio Theatre in nearby Anniston puts on four performances a year, while the Jacksonville University Drama Department also puts on a handful of productions.
Fair on the Square each May
Jacksonville Fair on the Square is one of the city’s most well-attended events. The free fair is held in May and features live music, food and market vendors. “In the summertime, on Saturdays, they have a farmers market on The Square,” Slick says. “It’s a pretty big thing for people around here.”
In between Birmingham and Atlanta
Alabama State Route 21 runs through the middle of Jacksonville and leads to Interstate 20 to the south. Birmingham is about 75 miles away using Route 21 and Interstate 20. Atlanta is approximately 95 miles east. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is about a 70-mile drive.
Jacksonville crime and weather
According to Alabama State Crime Reporting, crimes like assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft decreased in Calhoun County in 2023. Jacksonville is prone to tornados and hurricanes and experiences extreme heat in the summer and mild winters.
