Southside is a small town of 9,358 in Alabama, with a median household income of $70,843
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Southside stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Southside is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Southside city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.3
Southside's overall cost of living index is 94.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Southside costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Southside, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$187,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,105
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
90.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$70,843
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Southside's violent crime rate is 103.8 per 100,000 residents
— 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
103.8 /100k
Property Crime
321.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Southside is served primarily by Etowah County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Southside, AL
National Avg
School District
Etowah County
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Southside sees average highs of 52.8°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 57.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Southside's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Southside roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $187,300 and median rent is $1,105/month.
Southside's violent crime rate is 103.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 321.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Southside are operated by Etowah County.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Southside, AL has a population of 9,358, a median household income of $70,843, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Southside averages 52.8°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.6 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Southside, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35907.
The population of Southside, Alabama is 9,358 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Southside: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $187,300, median household income $70,843, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Southside side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
