Affordable houses near employers, shops and downtown
Residential subdivisions and manufacturing businesses are intermixed within Tarrant, a medium-sized neighborhood just north of Birmingham and its airport. With its comparatively low housing prices, Tarrant appeals to first-time homeowners looking to be close to work and stores but also investors ready to spruce up established houses. “It’s an affordable neighborhood that’s good for investors because it has a lot of opportunity,” says Jason Thomas, a Realtor with Keller Williams who has been selling homes in north Jefferson County for 4 years. Beyond Tarrant’s affordability, the neighborhood’s proximity to multiple highways is also a huge draw. “It’s convenient to the interstates, and since it borders Birmingham, residents have easy access to downtown,” Thomas says.
Architectural styles are many, and prices are low
Tarrant offers a great variety of architectural styles, with bungalows, cottages, ranch and raised ranch-style homes, split-levels and more. On the southwest side of the neighborhood, streets are wide enough to accommodate parking and often accompanied by sidewalks. This part of the neighborhood is fairly walkable, with shops and businesses not far from residences. Move-in ready homes usually start around $80,000, but houses ready for some sprucing up can sell for $30,000 or less. Newly renovated homes with at least 1,500 square feet of space tend to start around $100,000. Few homes sell above $150,000, and many of those can be found in the northwest corner of the neighborhood, where lots can exceed 3 acres. All these prices are well below Jefferson County’s median home value of $250,000.
Between highways and beside the airport
Pinson Valley Parkway, or State Highway 79, is Tarrant’s main thoroughfare, passing northeast through the community. Residents can expect to be on Interstates 20, 59 and 65 after about a 10-minute drive. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is just south of the neighborhood. “It’s not the busiest airport. If you’re living there, you’re going to get some noise, but it’s not bad,” Thomas says.
Tarrant City Schools
Pre-K through second grade students can attend Tarrant Elementary, which boasts an A-minus rating from Niche. They can move up to C-minus-rated Tarrant Intermediate through sixth grade. For grades seven through twelve, students can attend C-rated Tarrant High. In 2019, Tarrant High School unveiled a new $6 million football stadium adjacent to campus.
Southern fare and loads of shopping
Residents on the south end of Tarrant might pick up groceries and household items at chains like Stop & Shop or local stores like Southeast Meat & Vegetable. Depending on where they live, residents in the north might be closer to the Winn-Dixie in neighboring Fultondale. American Ranch House is right in downtown Tarrant and serves up meat and three meals but wings, seafood sandwiches and more. Cedar House Cafeteria is further down the road, an old-school cafeteria serving up more Southern fare. Foodies will happily cross over to Fultondale to enjoy Full Moon Bar-B-Que, which was ranked by AL.com as the best barbecue restaurant in Birmingham in 2023.
Recreation in Tarrant and Birmingham
Chief William “Billy” Hewitt Park offers a playground for children and a walking trail for the whole family to explore, along with a pavilion and a few fields. South of Tarrant, residents will find Inglenook Park, a cozy park with a softball diamond, a walking trail and three tennis courts. The Inglenook Recreation Center and the Tarrant Recreation Center both offer gymnasiums and basketball courts. A host of activities can be found in Birmingham, from interactive museums like the McWane Science Center to concerts at venues like Legacy Arena.
Events in the community and downtown
The Tarrant City Council puts on events for the community. In December 2023, they organized the town’s first Christmas Extravaganza, which featured a parade, caroling, games and more. Plenty of events take place in downtown Birmingham as well such as the Sidewalk Film Festival.
Written By
Alexander Breuhan
Photography Contributed By
Alan Bates
