This suburb of 16,000 calls itself the safest city in Alabama. Local boosters tout its hometown atmosphere, and its proximity to the shopping and services of Birmingham.
Residents tend to gather in the town’s historic center called “Old Town,” where the Buck Creek Festival is held every year.
Home prices have been on the upswing, but a dollar still stretches a long way. Three-bedroom starter homes can cost under $100,000, while a mint-condition five-bedroom home can go for around $300,000.