Nashville’s about a lot more than just country music! Nearly one-quarter of Nashville households have children. The population of Nashville is 678,851, meaning the city grew by nearly 90,000 people between 2010 and 2020, making Nashville the fastest-growing city in Tennessee. The population growth largely came from families having children or families with children moving into the city, as Nashville is a good place to raise a family.
Nashville has dozens of neighborhoods, some with their own districts. To help narrow down the best Nashville neighborhoods for families, take a look at the schools, family-friendly attractions, and affordable homes. Are you still asking yourself, “What are the best neighborhoods in Nashville?” Take a look at this list of the best places in Nashville for families.
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East Nashville | Safe Streets and Nurturing Schools
- Population: 63,013
- Median home price: $575,000
- School district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Crime (estimate for East End, a district in East Nashville): 2,091 per 100k people; 462 violent crimes per 100k, 1,629 property crimes per 100k; lower than Nashville and national averages
East Nashville is one of the safest neighborhoods in Nashville TN and boasts an extremely walkable neighborhood. Many residents enjoy the area around Fatherland Street, as many homes decorate for the holidays. You can also stop into several locally-owned businesses. 5 Points is one of the most popular East Nashville restaurants. You can enjoy pizza or stromboli with vibrant toppings.
Schools in the area include East Nashville Magnet High School. The school has a graduation rate of 98%, well above the state median. East Nashville offers honors courses, so students can engage in fast-paced and engaging classes. The school also has very successful athletics teams, including state champion track and basketball teams.
Housing is affordable, even for large apartments and homes. You can rent a three-bedroom home at more than 1,500 square feet for $3,200 a month. Two-bedroom apartments cost about $1,200 a month for 1,000 square feet.
Music Row | Nashville Neighborhood With the Best Schools
- Population: 2,765
- Median home price: $690,000
- School district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Crime (reported crimes in City Council District 19, the district that contains most of Music Row): 4,335 total reported crimes to the police in 2021; 3,409 property crimes and 926 violent crimes; higher than the city average
Music Row Nashville is best-known for its role in the art and music industry. Many businesses along 16th Avenue sell original and classic music, and you can find the headquarters for leading record labels like Curb Records.
But Music Row is gaining a reputation as one of the best places to live in Nashville. Niche ranks Music Row as #4 on its list of the best Nashville neighborhoods. It also ranks Music Row as #3 on its list for best neighborhoods to raise a family in Nashville. 12% of residents live in families with children, which makes the neighborhood diverse and kid-friendly.
Music Row is a renter-heavy neighborhood, with many apartments and houses available for rent. Four-bedroom 3,500 square foot homes cost about $5,000 a month.
Hume Fogg Magnet High School has an A+ grade from Niche, and US News and World Report ranks it in the top 100 high schools nationally. Students can take 31 different AP courses and participate in award-winning choir and theater programs.
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School also has an A+ grade from Niche. Alongside dozens of AP classes, students can take courses in engineering, foreign languages, journalism, and African American history. The school has an award-winning quiz bowl team as well as several successful athletics programs.
As with any area, Music Row does have crime, though there are safe places to live. Residents have reported on Niche that they feel pretty safe or very safe in the area.
Green Hills | Best Shopping in Nashville
- Population: 20,004
- Median home price: $1,045,925
- School district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Crime: 3,879 crimes per 100k people; 520 violent crimes and 3,359 property crimes; all lower than Nashville averages
Green Hills is famous amongst Nashville residents for its terrific shopping opportunities. The Mall at Green Hills is one of the largest malls in the Nashville area, with more than 100 stores and restaurants. Your children can attend special events, including visits with Santa during December.
The most famous attraction in Green Hills is The Bluebird Cafe. You and your children can enjoy meals and listen to country and rock musicians. Famous artists like Taylor Swift have performed at the Bluebird in recent years.
Green Hills also has excellent schools. At Julia Green Elementary School, 87% of students tested at or above the proficient level for math – nearly three times the district average. More than 90% of teachers have at least three years of experience in teaching.
Green Hills is among the safest neighborhoods in Nashville TN. Its violent crime rate is less than half of the city average and below the state average.
Though buying a home can be expensive, you can rent an apartment or house at affordable prices. Two-bedroom apartments at 1,100 square feet are available for around $1,600 a month.
Hermitage | Best Nashville Neighborhood for Childcare and Private Schools
- Population: 38,647
- Median home price: $338,900
- School district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Crime: 2,325 crimes per 100k people; 462 violent crimes, 1,411 violent crimes; all lower than Nashville averages
Hermitage is named after The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s mansion and one of the biggest family-friendly attractions in Nashville. You and your family can tour the mansion and learn more about President Jackson and his life. Special events are scheduled throughout the year, including Homeschool Days with interactive activities for kids.
Donelson Christian Academy is a private school in the area, with an A grade from Niche. The student-teacher ratio is 11:1, so students receive close supervision and support from faculty members.
If you’re a YMCA member, you can use the Donelson-Hermitage Family YMCA. The Y offers safe spaces for your children to stay and play with other kids while you use the Y’s services. Children up to 6 years old can play in Y-Play while children ages 6-12 can use the Youth Activity Center.
Hermitage is a safe place to live, especially if you live in the northeastern part of the neighborhood. Most residents consider the southwestern area to have the most crimes.
Hermitage has great family homes to buy in Nashville. Two-bedroom condos at 1,600 square feet are available for less than $500,000. You can rent two-bedroom apartments at 1,000 square feet for less than $1,200 a month.
12 South | Great Parks and Scrumptious Restaurants for Families
- Population: 2,800
- Median home price: $975,000
- School district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Crime (in City Council District 17, the district that includes 12 South): 1,700 total offenses reported to the police in 2021; 568 violent offenses and 1,508 property offenses; accounts for 6% of total crimes in the city, above the average
12 South is one of the best Nashville neighborhoods for families with young children. The neighborhood has several preschools and daycare programs, including Southern Stars Preschool. Southern Stars is a Montessori school that offers STEM, language, and physical education classes.
Sevier Park is one of the best family-friendly parks in Nashville. You and your children can play in open fields and go for walks along gentle walking paths. The Sevier Park Community Center has gymnasiums and dance rooms your family can use, and your kids can attend after-school programs.
12 South has some of Nashville’s best family restaurants. Wanna Spoon Cereal Bar offers dozens of cereals for you and your child to try. You can go during breakfast and lunch, and you can order ice cream and milkshakes when you’re done.
Though 12 South has above-average crime rates, most areas in 12 South are safe. Many crimes occur on or around the Belmont University campus, which is adjacent to the neighborhood. If you avoid the campus on weekends, you should be able to stay safe.
12 South has many housing options. If you’re interested in buying a home in Nashville, three-bedroom homes at 2,000 square feet are for sale for less than $1 million. Apartment buildings are located in and adjacent to the neighborhood, though you may need to call the landlords to get rates.
Downtown Nashville | Bustling Community With Fun Attractions and Thriving Preschools
- Population: 14,000
- Median home price: $635,000
- School district: Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
- Crime (in City Council District 19, the district that includes Downtown): 4,335 total reported crimes to the police in 2021; 3,409 property crimes and 926 violent crimes; higher than the city average
Downtown Nashville is undergoing a boom period. The number of residential units in the neighborhood increased by 12.5% in 2019 alone. The city is planning to add more than 8,000 condominium and rental units in the district from 2021 onward.
Niche gives Downtown Nashville an A+ and ranks it as #6 in Nashville neighborhoods. Downtown Nashville is the best neighborhood for kid-friendly attractions, especially if your kids love music. You can take your family to the Johnny Cash Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame any day of the week.
You and your family can visit a number of parks in the neighborhood. Bicentennial Park is 19 acres and contains a 2,000-seat amphitheater, where your children can play near fountains and in fields or attend concerts and shows at the amphitheater.
Hume-Fogg Academic High School and Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School serve students who live in the Downtown neighborhood. Templeton Academy is a private school where classes are two hours long, allowing students to learn about STEM and the humanities at length.
Though Downtown Nashville has above-average crime rates, most residents experience no crime during their lives in the neighborhood. If you avoid high-traffic areas and practice basic discretion, you can stay safe. Downtown Nashville contains and is near many different apartment buildings and condominium complexes. Two-bedroom apartments at 720 square feet are available for renters for less than $2,000 a month.
Map of the Best Neighborhoods in Nashville for Families
One of Nashville’s greatest strengths is its family-friendly neighborhoods. You can find exceptional schools for your kids or an affordable home in Music Row or Downtown Nashville. If you like affordable housing and walkable streets, consider East Nashville and Hermitage. If you want shopping, family-friendly amenities, and attractions for your kids, take a look at Green Hills and 12 South.
Are you ready to make your move to the Music City? The movers in Nashville are here to help. Call us at 615-434-8272 today for your free quote.
