Southside is a city located in Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is included in the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. It incorporated in 1957. As of the 2020 census, Southside had a population of 9,426. It is located 8 to 12 miles (13 to 19 km) south of downtown Gadsden.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Southside ranks

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#1Safest in AL #2Highest graduation rate in AL #16Fewest uninsured in AL All AL rankings →

Town numbers

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Area code256

Living in Southside

Housing in Southside

$276K▲ 1.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Southside home is worth about $276,000, up 1.5% in a year, 14% above the Alabama typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market43

Sale-to-list96.6%

Sold in May11

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Southside

Safety Grade A

Southside reports less crime per resident than 91% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Southside 0.3

Alabama 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Southside 3.6

Alabama 15

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Southside

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Most working residents leave Southside for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Gadsden (29%), Rainbow City (7%) and Anniston (5%). Half commute less than 12 miles.

Gadsden

29%

Rainbow City

Anniston

Birmingham

5%Work in townlive and work in Southside 12 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 922Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Southside →

Health in Southside

Health Grade B

Healthier than 57% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Alabama

11better than AL·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▲ 1▼ 8 close Habits all close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind 1▲ 4 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.6%Fewer adults facing food insecurityAL 19.2% · better 5.4%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offAL 9.6% · better 9.8%More adults who have had cancerAL 8.2% · worse

Care nearby

Riverview Regional Medical CenterGadsden · 7.9 mi · ER

J.W. Stewart Neighborhood Health CenterGadsden · 8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Southside · CMS · HRSAHealth in Southside →

Natural hazards in Southside

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

1Does Southside flood?paid flood claims since 2015 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Southside MapSouthside vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Southside →

Climate in Southside

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Southside has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 33°, and snow is almost unheard of.

56° / 35°Winter

74° / 50°Spring

89° / 68°Summer

75° / 51°Fall

How much snow does Southside get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 13, with the last in spring around Mar 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Southside →

Schools in Southside

All Southside schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Southside’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 78% of Alabama’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#47Best public schoolsof 180 in AL

DistrictEtowah CountySchools2

Southside Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–5 · 585 students Southside High School C+High · Grades 9–12 · 825 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within AL. Ratings are from neighbors.