HomeBlog Home
Tips & Advice

Best Neighborhoods to Live in Nashville: Best Places to Call Home - Kenna Real Estate Group -

Brian Lee BurkeBrian Lee Burke
Aug 4, 2025 6 min read
Share to X
Share to Facebook
Share to Linkedin
Copy Link
Best Neighborhoods to Live in Nashville: Best Places to Call Home -  Kenna Real Estate Group -

Best Neighborhoods to Live in Nashville: Best Places to Call Home

If the only pull that Nashville has on you is its country music legacy or even the Broadway lights, then you need to pull back the curtain a little more.

...Nashville is more than the tourist magnet many make it out to be!

The city has many thoughtfully curated neighborhoods. There are walkable streets lined with vintage boutiques, and, of course, cozy bungalows. 

Nashville offers a lifestyle cocktail for just about anyone, and it goes beyond the aesthetics. Safety, schools, green spaces, and even how fast you can get your morning biscuit and locally brewed coffee all factor into how good these neighborhoods are.

So, let's talk about the top neighborhoods to live in Nashville and why you can call these places home.

Quick Overview

  • Downtown Nashville — Best Neighborhood for Energetic Urbanites
  • Green Hills — Most Luxurious Suburban Neighborhood
  • 12 South — Most Walkable Nashville Neighborhood
  • The Gulch — Most Trendy Nashville Neighborhood
  • Sylvan Park — Most Community-Oriented Neighborhood
  • Belmont-Hillsboro — Most Classic Nashville Neighborhood
  • East Nashville — Best Neighborhood for Creatives

1. Downtown Nashville

The hum of skyscrapers and music drifting from every corner is what you can expect from Downtown Nashville. If this idea gets your blood pumping, it really might just be one of the best neighborhoods to live in Nashville for you.

Here, new restaurants open before the old ones even have a chance to fade. It's also not just for tourists.

Plus, the wave of luxury high-rise apartments and loft-style condos now caters to professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Nearly every place here is walkable: work, gym, groceries, sushi, and the Ryman Auditorium.

Undisputably, the nightlife is incredible, with excellent dining and modern apartments with skyline views.

  • Population: 1,962
  • Median Household Income: $106,853
  • Average House Rent: $2,281
  • Median Home Value: $775,000
  • Best Known For: The honky-tonks, the business district, rooftop bars, and the neon-lit Broadway buzz

2. Green Hills

If you prefer a more refined, affluent, and effortlessly elegant neighborhood, Green Hills is the place for you. 

It's one of the most ideal neighborhoods to live in Nashville for those who appreciate quieter streets, upscale shopping (at the popular The Mall), and beautiful homes with actual front yards.

Green Hills is home to many longtime residents, successful professionals, and even a few local celebs.

With top-tier schools and safer streets, it's a top choice for families who want luxury and all the unique perks that come with it.

Overall, the vibe is a "suburb in the city" feel.

    • Population: 6,617
    • Median Household Income: $91,397
    • Average House Rent: $2,184
    • Median Home Value: $887,500
    • Best Known For: Designer shopping and well-maintained homes

Looking for a Realtor Referral in Nashville, TN?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.

3. 12 South

The poster child of Nashville's cool factor is 12 South. Walkable streets with murals, taco joints, and weekend farmers markets—12 South delivers!

Although the area is a trendy spot with an artsy vibe, families and young professionals can pitch their tents here. Something to note: most things and places here are locally owned—everything, from fashion to food.

The pedestrian-friendly quality of the neighborhood places it high in the ranks of top neighborhoods in Nashville. You can bike to a café in the morning, grab gourmet donuts at Five Daughters Bakery, and finish the evening with live music at a tucked-away venue.

Fancy 12 South already? Well, you can elevate your first moments here by hiring a moving company in Nashville to help with your relocation. It's easier and allows you to settle in faster.

  • Population: 6,000
  • Median Household Income: $94,000
  • Average House Rent: $3,450
  • Median Home Value: $1.8M
  • Best Known For: Trendy shops and stylish bungalows

4. The Gulch 

What once was a warehouse district is now a shimmering example of urban revitalization done right.

The Gulch is exactly the luxury spot you just need. It boasts of LEED-certified high-rises, rooftop lounges, chef-driven restaurants, and sleek interior design.

...plus, it offers easy access to downtown, has good music, and is fashion-forward.

If you want to live where the city's movers, shakers, and innovators hang out, this is tops among the neighborhoods to live in Nashville.

Something extra: the Gulch is also incredibly eco-conscious and pedestrian-friendly.

  • Population: 3,422
  • Median Household Income: $80,379
  • Average House Rent: $2,287
  • Median Home Value: $612,500
  • Best Known For: Upscale condos and Nashville's trendiest dining scene

5. Sylvan Park

What you can bank on from Sylvan Park is the unmistakable classic Nashville feel.

Quiet but not dull. Suburban but still spirited. 

Sylvan Park is the kind of place where Sunday strolls to the local bakery are the norm.

Grab a biscuit from Star Bagel or brunch at Edley's, wave to your neighbor walking their golden retriever, and settle into the kind of pace that reminds you why you moved here. The combination of vintage homes, contemporary builds, community gardens, and walkable streets makes it perfect for young families and retirees.

The location is also convenient for biking and outdoor living. Richland Creek Greenway cuts right through, linking you to parks, golf courses, and even downtown with a few pedal pushes.

  • Population: 5,500
  • Median Household Income: $105,000
  • Average House Rent: $3,295
  • Median Home Value: $1.1M
  • Best Known For: Laid-back local eateries and strong community feel

6. Belmont-Hillsboro

For a touch of timelessness and convenience all wrapped up in college town energy, you cannot go wrong with the Belmont-Hillsboro area.

Located between Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities, this area serves up the best of two worlds: academic vibrancy and historic beauty. 

Red-brick homes, shady sidewalks, and vintage vibes make it attractive for professors, creatives, and families. It's also one of the neighborhoods to live in Nashville if you appreciate being close to education and culture.

In addition to the gorgeous early 20th-century homes, it's a brainy area with cultural vibes, thanks to the nearby colleges.

    • Population: 3,500
    • Median Household Income: $90,000
    • Average House Rent: $1,900
    • Median Home Value: $1M
    • Best Known For: Historic homes, college town energy, and timeless streetscapes

Looking for a Realtor Referral in Nashville, TN?
Let us help you. Call or Text Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 to get personalized assistance from our expert real estate agents. Find out what your home is worth in today's market.

7. East Nashville

You know that friend who embraces their quirks and isn't afraid to show a little personality, bakes their bread, and plays in a local band? They probably live in East Nashville and love it as well.

East Nashville has reinvented itself beautifully from its industrial past. Today, it has the vibrancy of colors, culture, and creativity. 

If you're looking for a home with character and neighbors who throw block parties, this is your place.

The best part of life here in East Nashville? You get a one-of-a-kind, strong sense of community. It's diverse, inclusive, and artistic.

  • Population: 25,000
  • Median Household Income: $78,000
  • Average House Rent: $1,850
  • Median Home Value: $630,000
  • Best Known For: Indie spirit, arts scene, and community pride

Endnote: One City. Endless Sounds. A Place to Call Home.

When choosing where to live, you're deciding how you will spend your mornings, who your neighbors will be, where your kids can play, and how you will feel when you pull into your driveway.

Nashville gives you options. Every neighborhood on this list has its appeal, but they all share that exceptional Nashville quality. There's a sense of hospitality, liveliness, and a rhythm that makes you feel like you belong.

So, what's your vibe? Big-city buzz? Farmer's market on Saturdays? Whatever it is, these neighborhoods to live in Nashville already have what makes them feel like your kind of home.

Related Articles

If you’re planning a move from Colorado to Nashville and need a reliable real estate agent in your new location, Kenna Real Estate Group is here to help. Thanks to our extensive network of trusted professionals across the country, there's a good chance we can connect you with an agent who will provide the same exceptional service you’ve come to expect from us. Contact Kenna Real Estate Group  today, and we'll ensure you're in good hands as you transition to your new home. 

Contact Kenna Real Estate Group

WRITTEN BY
Brian Lee Burke
Brian Lee Burke
AUTHOR, E-PRO®, REALTOR® BROKER

Brian Lee Burke is the founder and team leader of Kenna Real Estate Group, a real estate team at Keller Williams DTC. A licensed REALTOR® since 2002, Brian helps Colorado buyers and sellers navigate residential real estate, new construction, pricing, and negotiation. He is also the author of The Real Estate Playbook and Mastering Real Estate: Your Guide to Becoming a Top Agent.

View Brian Lee Burke’s full profile.