Best Neighborhoods in Nashville TN: A Local Guide

by Nik Shewmaker

What are the best neighborhoods in Nashville, TN? It depends on what you want day to day. Germantown, Hillsboro Village, 12 South, and Wedgewood-Houston put you close to downtown with shops and restaurants you can walk to. Green Hills, Belle Meade, and Forest Hills offer larger lots and established streets on the south and west sides. East Nashville neighborhoods like Lockeland Springs, Inglewood, and Edgefield have older homes with a lot of character, and areas like Bellevue, Donelson, and Crieve Hall give you more space a little farther out.

I'm Nik Shewmaker, a fifth-generation Nashville native. Below is a quick look at each Nashville neighborhood I've written a full guide for, with a link to the details, zoned schools, and live listings for each one.

Nashville Neighborhoods at a Glance

12 South

Walkable shops and restaurants along 12th Avenue South, Sevier Park, and early 1900s bungalows mixed with newer homes, about 2 miles from downtown. Read the full 12 South guide.

Belle Meade

A small separate city on Nashville's west side known for large homes on big, tree-lined lots and quick access to West End and Green Hills. Read the full Belle Meade guide.

Bellevue

A large suburban area in southwest Nashville next to the Warner Parks and the Harpeth River, with homes from many decades plus new construction. Read the full Bellevue guide.

Crieve Hall

Brick ranch homes on large wooded lots in south Nashville, built mostly in the 1950s and 1960s, just north of Brentwood. Read the full Crieve Hall guide.

Donelson

An established east Nashville area near the airport and the Opry, known for postwar brick ranches and a WeGo Star train station. Read the full Donelson guide.

Eastwood

An East Nashville neighborhood of older homes and newer infill around Eastland Avenue, a few minutes from Five Points. Read the full Eastwood guide.

Edgefield

One of Nashville's oldest neighborhoods, with Victorian homes in a historic district just across the river from downtown. Read the full Edgefield guide.

Forest Hills

A separate city south of Green Hills known for larger lots, rolling hills, and a quieter, more spacious feel. Read the full Forest Hills guide.

Germantown

A historic neighborhood just north of downtown, settled in the 1850s, with Victorian homes, condos, and well-known restaurants. Read the full Germantown guide.

Green Hills

South Nashville along Hillsboro Pike, home to The Mall at Green Hills and the Bluebird Cafe, with brick ranches and newer rebuilds. Read the full Green Hills guide.

Hillsboro Village

A walkable streetcar-era district next to Vanderbilt, surrounded by bungalows and cottages built between 1910 and 1940. Read the full Hillsboro Village guide.

Inglewood

An East Nashville neighborhood along Gallatin Pike known for brick and stone cottages, Tudors, and ranches from the 1930s to the early 1950s. Read the full Inglewood guide.

Lockeland Springs

A historic East Nashville neighborhood of early 1900s homes on tree-lined streets near Shelby Park and Five Points. Read the full Lockeland Springs guide.

Old Hickory

A lakeside community in northeast Davidson County on Old Hickory Lake, originally built around the DuPont plant in 1918. Read the full Old Hickory guide.

Rosebank

A quieter East Nashville neighborhood near Shelby Bottoms Greenway, with older cottages, ranches, and newer homes. Read the full Rosebank guide.

Shelby Hills

An East Nashville neighborhood next to Shelby Park, with older homes and newer builds a short drive from downtown. Read the full Shelby Hills guide.

Sylvan Park

A West Nashville neighborhood laid out in 1887, with sidewalks, bungalows, McCabe Park, and streets named for western states. Read the full Sylvan Park guide.

The Nations

A former industrial area in West Nashville centered on 51st Avenue, now known for new construction, local restaurants, and the silo mural. Read the full The Nations guide.

Wedgewood-Houston

A former industrial district just south of downtown with art galleries, GEODIS Park, townhomes, and new construction. Read the full Wedgewood-Houston guide.

West Nashville

Established neighborhoods west of downtown along Charlotte Pike and Harding Pike, close to I-40 and the Warner Parks. Read the full West Nashville guide.

How to Choose a Nashville Neighborhood

Start with your commute and how you want to spend your free time. If you want to walk to dinner, look closer in: Germantown, 12 South, Hillsboro Village, or Wedgewood-Houston. If you want a bigger yard, look at Crieve Hall, Bellevue, Donelson, or Forest Hills. If older homes with character matter most, East Nashville and Sylvan Park are good places to start. Then check school zones for the specific address, since zones in Metro Nashville can vary from street to street.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most walkable neighborhoods in Nashville?

Germantown, 12 South, Hillsboro Village, and parts of East Nashville like Lockeland Springs and Five Points are among the most walkable, with shops, restaurants, and parks within a few blocks of many homes.

Which Nashville neighborhoods have the largest lots?

Forest Hills and Belle Meade are known for large lots, and Crieve Hall and parts of Bellevue also have generous yards compared with neighborhoods closer to downtown.

Are Belle Meade and Forest Hills part of Nashville?

Both are small separate cities inside Davidson County. They have their own city governments and rules, but they are surrounded by Nashville and served by Metro Nashville Public Schools.

How do I check school zoning for a Nashville home?

Use the Metro Nashville Public Schools zone finder for the exact address. Each of my neighborhood guides lists the schools for an address I checked, but zones can change and some streets split.