7 Safest Places to Live in Tennessee

In this article we are going to go over some of the safest places to live in Tennessee. Naturally, safety will always be one of the first concerns in mind for someone moving to, or even just visiting, a new place. However, when judging how safe a place is, we have to be very careful about the way we look at crime statistics and rankings. Looking at statewide crime statistics, Tennessee might look like one of the last places you would want to visit, but broad calculations like these do not capture the reality of most people’s lives. Very few of us encounter violent crime in our day-to-day lives, and the vast majority of the state of Tennessee is an incredibly safe place to live. Still, there are some challenges that the state’s residents have to consider on a daily basis.

Crime is often talked about in a very alarmist way, but most of these statistics are based on the number of crimes per 100,000 people, per year. This means that even in the territory with the highest violent crime rate in the country, Washington, D.C., only 0.8% of the population there experienced any sort of violent crime in any given year. It’s also important to remember that most violent crime is concentrated in impoverished areas among people of the same socioeconomic background, who often have close social and even familial ties. Crime has been dropping drastically for several decades all around the country, with the exception of some densely populated and impoverished areas. In other words, Memphis is an outlier in comparison to the rest of the state.

With all of this in mind, there are of course some places which are safer than others, and it’s important that anybody considering a move to Tennessee takes this into account. For this list, we are going to take both violent and property crimes into consideration, based on FBI crime statistics. The FBI’s statistics do have some flaws. Their yearly “Crime in the Nation” report (last published in 2023 for the previous year) is based on contributions from every local police department in the country, but it has large gaps since implementing a brand new data collection system in 2021 that many police departments haven’t gotten on board with yet. Nonetheless, for over one hundred years, this report has been the most comprehensive look at crime in the United States that we have, and practically every article written about crime in this country will cite it. Without further ado, let’s get into this data and see what cities in Tennessee are the safest to live in.

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1. Signal Mountain

Signal Mountain is an affluent, mountain-top suburb of Chattanooga which has some of the most prized real estate in the whole region. Signal Mountain is situated on a picturesque ridge overlooking the larger metro area but is surrounded by greenery and public natural areas. It has some of the best hiking and walking trails in Southeastern Tennessee. Known for its beautiful landscapes and close-knit community, Signal Mountain is an ideal place for families and nature enthusiasts, and it has been listed as one of the best places to raise a family and one of the best to retire in the US. The town provides various outdoor activities such as hiking trails, parks, and scenic overlooks, making it a haven for those who enjoy nature. With a population of around 8,824, it maintains a small-town charm while still providing essential amenities and services. The local schools are highly rated, contributing to a strong sense of community and family-oriented lifestyle.

Signal Mountain stands out as by far the safest city in Tennessee, with a remarkably low violent crime rate of 0.1 incidents per 1,000 people (meaning less than one incident per year) and a property crime rate of 3.1 incidents per 1,000 people​. The community maintains robust law enforcement funding and community engagement initiatives, contributing to its sense of community and safety. This exceptionally low crime rate combined with the town’s tranquil environment makes Signal Mountain an extremely safe and attractive place to live–a key reason why it is one of the wealthiest areas of the whole region.

2. Oakland

Located in Fayette County in Southwest Tennessee, Oakland blends together suburban and rural life in a small-town atmosphere despite a huge boom in population and economic growth in recent decades. With a population of about 10,004, Oakland provides a peaceful and family-friendly space that has led to its extremely fast growth. The town features several parks, recreational facilities, and community events that bring residents together. Oakland’s schools are also well regarded, contributing to the town’s appeal for families. With new businesses and developments enhancing the quality of life for residents, the city continues to maintain a safe atmosphere, starkly distinguishing itself from nearby Memphis.

Oakland has an exceptionally low violent crime rate of 1.0 incident per 1,000 people and the lowest property crime rate in Tennessee at 2.3 incidents per 1,000 people​​. The level of crime in Oakland makes it one of the safest places in America, only falling below Signal Mountain because of the latter’s near-zero level of violent crime. The vast majority of crime in Oakland is property crime, particularly larceny, so there is very little cause for concern for someone thinking about a move to the city.

3. Loudon

Loudon is a small town located in East Tennessee just down I-75 from the Knoxville metro area. It is known for being a small, welcoming town with strong ties to history. With a population of 6,479, Loudon offers a peaceful atmosphere that is centrally located in the region, with quick access to Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Chattanooga. Loudon’s proximity to major highways and the Tennessee River enhances its logistics capabilities. Local efforts, including revitalization projects and business incentives, have further stimulated growth, making Loudon a promising area for economic development. The expansion of the Foothills Industrial Park in particular has attracted various manufacturing and logistics companies, contributing to job creation and economic diversification. The town is home to several historic sites, parks, and local businesses that contribute to its unique charm. Loudon’s population is growing rapidly, but it has continuously managed to maintain an impressively low crime rate. 

Loudon ranks very high in safety, with a violent crime rate of only 0.2 incidents per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 4.9 incidents per 1,000 people​. Small towns almost always have lower crime rates than big cities, but even out of all the small towns in the state of Tennessee, Loudon ranks near the bottom of the list. 

4. Nolensville

Nolensville is located in Williamson County, planted centrally in Middle Tennessee and just outside of Nashville. It is one of the many rapidly growing towns that are a part of the explosive economic growth of the Nashville metro area. Nolensville has a fast-climbing population of 16,990, a number that more than tripled between 2010 and 2020. Nolensville is typical for the area, as the state of Tennessee is drawing in masses of people from out West and around the country drawn in by the state’s low cost of living and lack of state income tax. However, despite this growth, Nolensville has maintained an exceptionally low level of crime that stands out in the region.

Nolensville is one of the safest towns in Tennessee, with a violent crime rate of 0.8 incidents per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 3.4 incidents per 1,000 people​. This is in contrast to a crime rate of 22.10 per 1,000 in the nearby county seat, Franklin. Franklin is well known across the state as a hotspot for the wealthy with some of the best health care, schools, and shopping centers in the state, making Nolensville’s comparative lack of crime highly impressive.

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5. Erwin

Erwin is a true part of Southern Appalachia. It’s located in the far northeast of the state in the Johnson City metro area. It is a part of the Tri-Cities region, an urban conglomeration that sprawls across the borders in between Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. With a population of only 5,931 that has barely changed in one hundred years, Erwin is unlike the other members of this list. It is not a booming suburb with a small-town atmosphere; it is the true stereotype of a small town (including the bad ones). The town is deeply embedded in the natural landscape of the Appalachian Mountains. It’s surrounded by the expansive Cherokee National Forest and is located directly on the famous Appalachian Trail, which spans the entire eastern seaboard and draws nature enthusiasts from around the world. With a tiny population far from the urban landscape that many of us are used to, it’s no surprise that there is very little crime here.

Erwin has a minimal violent crime rate of 0.5 incidents per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 5.4 incidents per 1,000 people​, making property crime a far greater concern than violence for anyone visiting the area. This can probably be attributed to the large number of non-residents passing through the area on the Appalachian Trail and moving through the surrounding national park. Much of that crime likely does not even involve residents, but rather other people visiting the nature areas.

6. Kingston

Kingston is located in Roane County just outside of Knoxville, TN. It is a small town with extremely rich historical roots. Its population is approximately 6,067 and has been largely static since the 1970s, unlike many of the cities on this list.  Kingston is a peaceful riverside town well outside of any large urban area with I-40 running right down the middle of it, connecting it to nearby Knoxville. The town is home to several historic sites, parks, and recreational facilities that contribute to its atmosphere. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life, with ample opportunities for outdoor activities and community involvement.

Kingston has a low violent crime rate of 0.5 incidents per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 8.4 incidents per 1,000 people​​. With a very small population and tranquil community of small businesses and riverside recreation, it is a predictably safe place for visitors or people looking for a new place to call home.

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7. Brentwood

Brentwood is located directly next to Nolensville inside of Williamson County. It is a slightly bigger suburb though, and is directly connected to the sprawl of Franklin. However, like its neighbor and fellow member on this list, it boasts a low crime rate that impressively sets it apart from the better known seat of the county, Franklin. Brentwood is known for its exceedingly affluent community and high quality of life. With a population of around 42,000, Brentwood is a major suburb much different from the other members of this list. The town features impressive shopping centers, restaurants, and cultural attractions and is directly connected to all of the high-class amenities of nearby Franklin and Nashville.

Brentwood maintains a strong reputation for safety, with a violent crime rate of only 0.6 incidents per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 9.1 incidents per 1,000 people​, which is extremely impressive for its size​ and amount of retail shopping. Its economic development has been continuing full steam for several years with massive commercial developments continuously underway and housing expanding rapidly to keep up with the growing population and retail sector. Despite this, violent crime has held steady at near-zero levels, and property crimes like theft remain at very low levels despite the suburb’s economic situation.

Conclusion

Each of the cities on this list brings a different background and economic situation, but they all display unique and impressively low levels of crime. While Tennessee as a whole is largely regarded as a high-crime state, much of life here is quite peaceful and productive, with a few dense urban areas dealing with the most severe crime problems in contrast to many stable, medium-sized cities and small towns spread all over the state. Even with that in mind, these seven cities stand apart as places with exceptionally safe, crime-free communities. Whether you are someone looking for a new place to live, a tourist just visiting Tennessee, or someone interested in studying crime rates and good governance, the cities on this list should be places you take a long look at.