North Jefferson
Moving to Gardendale, Alabama?
A north-of-Birmingham town on I-65 where home prices are well below the south suburbs and downtown is about fifteen minutes away.
Start here
Lower prices, a short drive south.
Gardendale facts at a glance.
| Measure | Gardendale |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,425 (July 1, 2025 estimate) Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Median household income | $82,192 Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Median gross rent | $1,299/month Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Median home value | $252,600 Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 78.2% Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Average commute to work | 26.2 minutes Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts ↗ |
| Sales tax | 10% (4% state, 2% Jefferson County, 4% city) Source: Alabama Department of Revenue local tax rate file ↗ |
| Public schools | Jefferson County Schools, including Gardendale Elementary, Snow Rogers Elementary, Bragg Middle, and Gardendale High School Source: Jefferson County Schools ↗ |
| City parks | Bill Noble Athletic Complex, Luman Harris Park, Beatrice Johnson Park, the Clemons Complex, and the Magnolia Links 18-hole disc golf course Source: City of Gardendale parks and recreation ↗ |
| Grocery stores | Publix at Magnolia City Place on Fieldstown Road; Gardendale Foodland in the Valley Green Shopping Center on Main Street Source: Google Maps business listings |
| Drive to downtown Birmingham | About 15 minutes (10.8 miles) Source: Google Maps driving estimates from each city hall, light Saturday-afternoon traffic |
| Drive to UAB Hospital | About 18 minutes (12.2 miles) Source: Google Maps driving estimates from each city hall, light Saturday-afternoon traffic |
| Drive to BHM airport | About 19 minutes (15.4 miles) Source: Google Maps driving estimates from each city hall, light Saturday-afternoon traffic |
Checked October 2026. Census figures are American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024, except population. Drive times are light-traffic estimates; weekday rush hours take longer. Taxes, utilities, and school assignment depend on the exact address, so confirm them before you sign.
Why put it on your list?
Gardendale’s Census median home value is $252,600, far below Hoover, Mountain Brook, or Chelsea, and downtown Birmingham was about 15 minutes away on Google Maps. That combination makes it a useful comparison for anyone who works downtown or at UAB and wants more house for the money.
Rentals are more common here than in the Shelby County towns, about one home in five, so renting first is a realistic way to try the commute. Ask how the drive changes when I-65 backs up, and test the Fieldstown Road and Main Street area at the hour you would run errands.
Gardendale’s public schools are part of Jefferson County Schools. Check the zoned school for the exact address, and compare insurance quotes, because older homes and newer builds can price very differently.
Parks, county schools, and errands on Fieldstown Road.
The city runs the Bill Noble Athletic Complex, Luman Harris Park, Beatrice Johnson Park, and the Clemons Complex, plus Magnolia Links, an 18-hole disc golf course that opened in 2020 (City of Gardendale parks and recreation ↗).
Schools are part of Jefferson County Schools ↗. Gardendale High, Bragg Middle, Gardendale Elementary, and Snow Rogers Elementary all carry the Gardendale area’s students, but assignment still follows the address.
Sales tax is 10%: 4% state, 2% Jefferson County, and 4% city (Alabama Department of Revenue local tax rate file ↗). The main grocery stops are a Publix on Fieldstown Road and Gardendale Foodland on Main Street.
Verify the address before deciding.
Current inventory, taxes, insurance, zoning, schools, utilities, inspection findings, and commute times belong to the exact property and your actual routine.
- People who work downtown or at UAB and want a lower home price
- Renters who want to test a north-metro routine
- Families comparing Jefferson County Schools
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