Nashville, TN, is known as the Music City because it’s where aspiring artists, famous musicians, and everyone in between dreams of making it big in the music industry. You have activities to do, like visiting the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, or getting out in the beautiful scenery and spending the day at one of the many parks.
The median household income is $63,462, and if you’re interested in purchasing a piece of property, the average value is $287,300.
With 687,361 residents in the city, Nashville has seen consistent growth since 2010 due to its affordability, unmatched culture, some of the best schools, and family-friendly neighborhoods.
We understand that finding the best neighborhood when moving to a new city is essential, especially if you have a family, are a young adult, or are a senior. You want to ensure that where you’re putting down roots is a safe community.
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Crime Stats in Nashville
The crime rate in Nashville, TN, is higher than the national average, but just like any other big city, there are plenty of terrific places that are safe and family-friendly.
When it comes to the percentage of total crime rate per 100k, Nashville is 106.5% higher than the rest of the country, but the majority of these stats come from the following areas: Salemtown, West Meade, Heron Walk, Talbot’s Corner, Glencliff, and Bordeaux, so if you take those specific areas out of the equation, the crime statistics dramatically decrease.
Violent Crime Rate in Nashville
The violent crime rate in Nashville, TN, is 1,073 per 100k people, or a total rate of 7,376, and for murder, the rate per 100k is 12 for 2019. Here is a breakdown of all the violent crimes from the 2019 stats:
- Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter: 83
- Rape: 438
- Robbery: 1,978
- Aggravated Assualt: 4,877
When you compare your 1 in X chance of being a victim of a violent crime between the city, the state, and the country, here is what you get:
- Nashville: 1 in 98 chance of being a victim of a violent crime
- Tennessee: 1 in 168 chance of being a victim of a violent crime
- United States: 1 in 273 chance of being a victim of a violent crime
As you can see, the majority of these crimes come from the aggravated assault category and robbery. While technically, the rate of violent crimes is on the rise in Nashville, it’s coming from these two categories. And the rape and murder stats are well below the national average.
Property Crime Rate In Nashville
The property crime rate in Nashville, TN, is 4,041 per 100k people, or a total of 27,777 property crimes. Here is a breakdown of all the property crimes from the 2019 stats:
- Burglary: 3,374
- Larceny- theft: 21,655
- Motor vehicle theft: 2,748
- Arson: 60
To break down your chances of being a victim of a property crime, here is your 1 in X chance of being a victim of a property crime in Nashville, TN:
- Nashville: 1 in 4,041
- Tennessee: 1 in 2,653
- United States: 1 in 2,110
The majority of your property crimes come from larceny (a.k.a theft). Property crime has decreased over the years and has seen a dramatic dip, the largest since 2017.
Metro Nashville, TN, utilizes a free interactive crime map that shows what is happening within a designated geographical location.
You can also find crime reports that state the statistics on the Nashville Police Department website or the online Nashville crime statistics report.
Safest Neighborhoods in Nashville
Green Hills | Safety & Suburban Living
The neighborhood of Green Hills is known for two things: the safe environment and the delicious foods. Some of the best places you need to check out are the Char Restaurant and Emmy Squared Pizza.
- Crime: The total crime rate per 100k people in Green Hills is 3,879, which is lower than the rest of Nashville by 1,350.
- Median Home Price: The median home price in Green Hills is $1,104,000.
- Great For: Well-established young adults, upper-class families, and even retirees.
West End (Midtown) | Nightlife & Safe
West End, or as the locals refer to it, Midtown, is the place you want to go to let go and have fun. There is a large variety of bars, including gay bars and clubs, along with incredible live music, and the Centennial Park that is a staple in the community.
- Crime: The total crime rate for Midtown is 1,482 per 100k, which is 53% lower than the rest of Tennessee
- Median Home Price: If you’re looking to purchase a piece of property in Midtown, you can expect to pay around $585,250
- Great For: Young adults, college students, and families
Hillsboro-Belmont | Historical & Safe Nashville Neighborhood
This neighborhood is known for the Five Daughters Bakery, nearby cocktail bars, and the stunning Belmont Mansion, which is now a museum. Even though it’s a more relaxed neighborhood, it’s also a common place for college students because of its location near Vanderbilt University.
- Crime: The total crime per 100k people is 3,807, which is lower than the 5,229 per 100k people for the rest of Nashville
- Median Home Price: When it comes to purchasing a home in Hillsboro-Belmont, TN, you can expect to pay around $1,271,125
- Great For: College students, families, and young adults starting out in their career
Inglewood | Mixture of Urban & Suburban Living
Near the Cumberland River, Inglewood is known for delicious food like the El Fuego Restaurant and its short drive to the heart of Downtown Nashville, so you have the benefits of both worlds: urban and suburban living.
- Crime: For the total crime rate, there are 4,561 per 100k people, which is lower than the Nashville rate of 5,229.
- Median Home Price: You can expect to pay around $583,500 to buy a piece of property in Inglewood.
- Great For: Families and young adults are the main residents, but it’s a wonderful place for everyone
Historic Edgefield | First National Historic Neighborhood in Nashville
With the beautiful historical homes matched with urban amenities, this neighborhood has everything you would want: class and comfort. Food and drinks are big in Historic Edgefield, so there are plenty of restaurants and bars to check out like the Sky Blue Cafe, Yeast Nashville, and Hawkers Asian Street Food.
- Crime: With a total crime rate of 2,555 per 100k, it’s well below the rate for the city of Nashville
- Median Home Price: You can expect to pay around $967,500 for a home in the Historic Edgefield
- Great For: Musicians, artists, young adults, or anyone looking for a relaxed and laid back lifestyle
Bellevue | Peaceful & Beautiful Scenery in Nashville
What started as only a farming community has grown into a neighborhood that provides a peaceful place to live outside the hustle and bustle and near the beautiful scenery— surrounded by hiking trails, fields, and cycling paths.
- Crime: Crime is not a big factor in Bellevue as most of the crimes is at or below the national average, except for robberies, which is 24% higher than other areas in the United States.
- Median Home Price: If you want to buy a home surrounded by breathtaking nature, then you can expect to pay around $455,200 for a piece of property in Bellevue.
- Great For: Families, people with lower incomes (its a more affordable area), and if you’re a first-time homebuyer.
High Crime Areas of Nashville
As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of family-friendly and safe areas to call home here in Nashville. But like any other city, there are areas to avoid in Nashville. Here are the worst neighborhoods in Nashville, Tennessee:
- Salemtown (population: 400): there is a total crime rate of 7,287 per 100k people. The majority of the crime category comes from a variety of violent crimes.
- West Meade (population: 3,169): with a total crime rate of 11,347 per 100k, this neighborhood is over double the amount of Nashville, and violent crime is well above the national average.
- Heron Walk (population: 11,940): there is a total crime rate of 14,832 per 100k people here in Heron Walk. Assaults, burglaries, robberies, and thefts are the most common crimes in this area.
- Talbot’s Corner (population: 12,018): this neighborhood has a total crime rate of 10,970 per 100k people
- Glencliff (population: 7,729): with a total crime rate of 12,955 per 100k people, this is over double the amount in Nashville and 4x the amount per 100k people in the entire state of Tennessee.
- Bordeaux (population: 5,092): you can expect a total crime rate of around 9,935 per 100k people, and this high crime will often prevent people from moving to the area, especially if they’re living alone.
Questions to Answer/FAQ
Is it safe to live in Nashville, TN?
Like any other city, some areas are not the safest, but as you can see, there are plenty of safe neighborhoods, low-crime areas, and family-friendly communities. If you stay away from places known for their high crime rate, you will be perfectly fine.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Nashville?
Some of the safest neighborhoods in Nashville, Tennessee, include Green Hills, West End (Midtown), Hillsboro-Belmont, Inglewood, Historic Edgefield, and Bellevue.
What parts of Nashville should I avoid?
Before you move to this music-focused, family-friendly city, you probably want to know the bad areas of Nashville. These include Salemtown, West Meade, Heron Walk, Talbot’s Corner, Glencliff, and Bordeaux.
Map of Safe Neighborhoods in Nashville
Here is a map of all the safe neighborhoods in Nashville, Tennessee, we outlined throughout the article.
Nashville is a perfect place for those who love music and delicious food and for people looking to set up roots. Are you thinking about relocating to Nashville, TN? Our dependable Nashville movers are the best-of-the-best and the team of movers you need. With our grade-a service, our crew members will always treat your belongings like they were our own. Call us at 615-434-8272 to receive a free estimate!