Northport, Alabama
A 15-minute drive from the University of Alabama, Northport, Ala., lies just across the river from Tuscaloosa. ToddmediaGetty Images
- StateAlabama
- CountyTuscaloosa
- Population25,585
Located across the Black Warrior River from downtown Tuscaloosa, Northport is a quiet, leafy suburb just a quick 15-minute drive from the University of Alabama, the largest and best-known public university in the state.
Its small brick-paved historical downtown offers residents art galleries, restaurants, museums, and shops to explore with clear views of its landmark old wooden train trestle, painted with the phrase “Roll Tide,” in praise of the university’s Crimson Tide football team.
College life and football aren’t the town’s only focus, though many locals do flock to Bryant–Denny Stadium, the eighth largest in the country, to show their devotion each fall. Northport also boasts a rich history of supporting artists.
Every October, Northport hosts the 52-year-old annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts, featuring the work of more than 270 artists from across the nation as well as live music and spoken word performances, plus demonstrations from potters, quilters, and basketmakers, along with a selection of local craft brews. Proceeds from the event go to the Kentuck Art Center, home to six professional artists’ studios, which can be toured monthly at its Art Nights while listening to live music. And over the holidays, the town evokes A Christmas Carol, with Victorian-era decorations, artificial snow, and carolers for its annual Dickens Downtown celebration.
In addition to its many local traditions and events, Northport’s 30,000-plus residents find homes that cost slightly less than the state median, low crime rates, and a modest commute of just 22 minutes to the area’s major employers, including the University of Alabama as well as automotive manufacturing giants such as Mercedes-Benz, BF Goodrich, and Samvardhana Motherson Peguform (SMP).—KR
Its small brick-paved historical downtown offers residents art galleries, restaurants, museums, and shops to explore with clear views of its landmark old wooden train trestle, painted with the phrase “Roll Tide,” in praise of the university’s Crimson Tide football team.
College life and football aren’t the town’s only focus, though many locals do flock to Bryant–Denny Stadium, the eighth largest in the country, to show their devotion each fall. Northport also boasts a rich history of supporting artists.
Every October, Northport hosts the 52-year-old annual Kentuck Festival of the Arts, featuring the work of more than 270 artists from across the nation as well as live music and spoken word performances, plus demonstrations from potters, quilters, and basketmakers, along with a selection of local craft brews. Proceeds from the event go to the Kentuck Art Center, home to six professional artists’ studios, which can be toured monthly at its Art Nights while listening to live music. And over the holidays, the town evokes A Christmas Carol, with Victorian-era decorations, artificial snow, and carolers for its annual Dickens Downtown celebration.
In addition to its many local traditions and events, Northport’s 30,000-plus residents find homes that cost slightly less than the state median, low crime rates, and a modest commute of just 22 minutes to the area’s major employers, including the University of Alabama as well as automotive manufacturing giants such as Mercedes-Benz, BF Goodrich, and Samvardhana Motherson Peguform (SMP).—KR
Town Information
| Median sale price for single family residences (2022) | $221,801 |
| Median household income | $75,467 |
| Racial and ethnic makeup of current residents | Asian: 1.34%, Black: 28.33%, Hispanic: 5.78% |
| Racial and ethnic makeup of U.S. | Asian: 6.1%, Black: 13.6%, Hispanic: 18.9% |
| High school district graduation rate (averages of districts were applied when necessary) | 88.96% |
| Percent of schools serving students in the area that rank "above average" (averages of districts were applied when necessary) | 13% |
| Number of hospitals within 25 miles recommended by over 50% of patients | 1 |
| Number of above-average nursing homes within 50 miles, per 100,000 households | 27 |
| Sharecare Community Well-Being Index Score (out of 100) | 53 |
Sources: ATTOM, U.S. Census Bureau, GreatSchools, Healthgrades, Caring.com, Sharecare