Hartselle formed around a train depot established along the South and North Alabama Railroad in the late 1800s. Though much of the city center burned down in a 1916 fire, it was rebuilt, and now downtown Hartselle — with its brick sidewalks and awnings over old-timey shops — is on the National Register of Historic Places. Trains still run along the tracks next to the restored depot, which now houses local artifacts.
Home to over 15,000 residents, the north-central Alabama city is a mix of lifelong residents and those who relocated to the area after a recent tech boom created new jobs in nearby Huntsville. "We're in a steady growth cycle and I'm good with that," Hartselle Mayor Randy Garrison says. "It gives you time to keep up with it." Lower housing prices than Huntsville, 35 miles away, and a top-rated school district are big draws.
Hartselle radiates out from it's historic downtown center.
Much of the broad sidewalks of Downtown Hartselle are covered, providing shade from the intense Alabama Summer sun.
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Hartselle school district is "the center of the town"
Many who choose to live in Hartselle and commute do so for its highly rated school district, Hartselle City Schools, which scores an A on Niche. The district serves more than 3,500 students at its six schools, including the new Crestline Elementary that opened in 2024 and was named a National Blue Ribbon School. It is also home to the district's centralized preschool program. Hartselle High School offers advanced coursework, dual enrollment opportunities with a nearby community college and an academy model that lets students explore careers in areas like engineering, manufacturing, agriculture and military leadership. "The school is pretty much the center of the town," says lifelong resident Alice Anne Cothran, who owns The Robin's Nest children's boutique in downtown Hartselle. "That's what everybody does, whatever the school is doing." Kids' athletics, theater productions and other activities pull everyone together.
Full campus of Hartselle High School in Hartselle Alabama.
Crestline Elementary School is a public primary school in Hartselle Alabama.
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Mostly single-family homes, including some townhouse communities
The median home price in Hartselle is around $260,000, below the $325,000 median in Huntsville. Most available housing options are single-family homes, ranging from 1930s bungalows to ranch-style homes dating from the 1950s to the '90s. There is also some single-family new construction throughout the city. Homes on the outskirts of town typically come with more land and a rural feel. There are also some townhomes downtown that start below $200,000 and a new subdivision of newly constructed townhomes near Interstate 65.
Most homes in Hartselle, Alabama, are modest in size and price.
There are some condos available in Hartselle as well as single family homes.
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Local shopping downtown
Many locally owned shops and restaurants, including coffee shops, bakeries, and Southern-style eateries, are clustered in and near downtown Hartselle. Chain restaurants, fast-food outlets and big-box stores, including a Walmart Supercenter, are along Highway 31.
Pizza Ed is one of several local restaurants found in Downtown Hartselle.
There are several locally owned shops and restaurants in Downtown Hartselle Alabama, including The Robin's Nest.
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Depot Days and Christmas parades downtown
During the annual Depot Days festival in September, vendors line the downtown streets, selling art and homemade treats. Festivalgoers also enjoy food and games. In early November, the downtown businesses host a Christmas Open House, and a Christmas parade comes through every winter. Cothran notes that her boutique and other downtown businesses, including the many antique shops, often get out-of-town visitors who make the easy detour off Interstate 65.
The streets of Downtown Hartselle are easily walkable, with many locally owned businesses.
Downtown Hartselle is the heart of this community in North Alabama.
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More walking trails and new public amenities on the way
Hartselle has several sports fields and courts, and Sparkman Park offers multiple playgrounds. Nearby is the Lakeside disc golf course. The city's Aquatics Center features a pool, water slides, lazy river and splash pad.
The city is also working on multiple improvement projects. It is in the middle of a $10 million, 10-year expansion project at Sparkman Park that will add walking trails, improve landscaping and update facilities. The first phase of a cross-town walking and biking trail is being built. Officials expect to break ground in 2025 on a replacement library and fire station, as well as a new events center.
Hartselle has more than 20 churches serving various denominations.
The aquatic center in Hartselle has lots of water features to help residents cool off in the hot Alabama Summer.
Sparkman Park in Hartselle has several athletic fields, including baseball and softball diamonds.
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I-65 leads to Birmingham
Hartselle is well-connected to major cities. I-65 runs just to the east, leading to Birmingham, 70 miles south. Nashville is about 120 miles north along I-65. The nearest hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospital, is a 12-mile drive north along Highway 31 to Decatur. The nearest airport is Huntsville International.
I-65 runs through Hartselle and connects it to Birmingham to the south and Nashville to the north.
Huntsville International Airport is the closest airport to Hartselle.
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Hot summers and plenty of rain
Hartselle has long hot summers and mild winters, much like the rest of Alabama. Rain is plentiful and thunderstorms are common.
Crime data for Hartselle is not readily available.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
