City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Southside, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Southside - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,407
Residents
$73,695
Median income
$202,900
Median home
$927
Median rent (state)

Southside - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Southside lands in the 55th percentile for household income and the 88th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

55th
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
8th
percentile, median rent
88th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Southside, AL

Alabama's Southside is a small town, with 9,407 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $73,695 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.2%. Home values in Southside run a median of $202,900, and the median resident age is 41.0 years. Educational attainment runs 23.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 41 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 29% from five years earlier. Southside reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 425.4 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: the state registers 88.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $927 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $245 across Alabama, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Southside report an average commute of 26.0 minutes, with 94.3% driving alone and 1.4% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

9,407 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$73,695 /yr

Poverty 4.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Southside compare to other US cities?

Southside measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 55% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 8% pricier than other cities
Safety 88% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Alabama and the picture shifts: Southside ranks #15 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Southside against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Southside toward the bottom of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Southside ranks #438 - the 20th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Southside only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#103 of 530
81st percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#291 of 556
44th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#112 of 517
78th percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#438 of 556
20th percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#144 of 556
74th percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

55thIncome percentile
88thSafety percentile

55th percentile nationally for median household income · 88th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Southside's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Southside's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 72 Avg. percentile National median
Southside's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Southside's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$202,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Southside $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Southside, AL Southside, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Southside, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Southside, AL median $73,695/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Southside, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Southside, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,407
Median Income
$73,695
Median Home Value
$202,900
Median Age
41.0
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Labor force participation
58.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
425.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
103.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
321.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,400 residents9,500 residents9,600 residents9,700 residents9,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,474 residents 9,718 residents ▲ +2.6%
Southside's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
41
housing units authorized
Single-Family
41
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 58
2020 44
2021 35
2022 27
2023 27
2024 41

Permit volume decreased 29% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
26.0 minutes
Drive Alone
94.3%
Carpool
3.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.4%
Other
0.7%

Based on 4,258 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Southside sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$927/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Sheffield
9,334 people
Pleasant Grove
9,502 people
Forestdale
9,149 people
Tuscumbia
9,084 people
Tuskegee
9,070 people
Fultondale
9,753 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Southside's 9,407 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bastrop, LA
9,408 people
St. Stephens, NC
9,409 people
Charter Oak, CA
9,414 people
Alma, MI
9,421 people
Angola, IN
9,383 people
San Lorenzo zona urbana, PR
9,381 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Southside's $73,695 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

New Hope, MN
$73,698 median income
Seville, OH
$73,698 median income
Box Elder, SD
$73,698 median income
Lolo, MT
$73,700 median income
Conashaugh Lakes, PA
$73,704 median income
Mesilla, NM
$73,681 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Southside, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Southside, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 91.2% Black or African American 4.6% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 2.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Southside compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Southside (this city) 9,407 $73,695
Sheffield 9,334 $42,097
Pleasant Grove 9,502 $68,344
Forestdale 9,149 $57,145
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Southside, AL?

What is the population of Southside, AL? +

The population of Southside, AL stands at 9,407 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Southside, AL? +

The median household income in Southside is $73,695 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Southside? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Southside; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Southside, AL safe? +

Southside has a total crime rate of 425.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Southside, AL? +

The median home value in Southside is $202,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.