What are the best neigborhoods in Memphis?

Where is the good life? For families? Singles?

i will kike to work

It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to Memphis. Probably this summer. Where are the best places to live in and around Memphis? The folks my husband was interviewed by said everything from mid-town to Germantown/Collierville to Lakeland. What are these places like: shopping, culture, crime, etc.? Also what is the Bartlett and Lakeland area like?

SuJun in Laramie, Wyoming said: It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to Memphis. Probably this summer. Where are the best places to live in and around Memphis? The folks my husband was interviewed by said everything from mid-town to Germantown/Collierville to Lakeland. What are these places like: shopping, culture, crime, etc.? Also what is the Bartlett and Lakeland area like?

Hi,
Just saw your request posted a couple of months ago. In the event that you are still relocating to the Memphis and have questions, please email me. I will make an effort to answer what questions that you may have.

Hi Relo,

We are indeed moving to Memphis this summer, probably in late July to August. We are moving from a very dry climate to the very humid Memphis, thank goodness. We will be renting this year because we want to look around and because our house may not sell immediately.

I have several question:
Where is the best place to look for housing? My husband will be commuting to the University of Memphis.

Since we do not know when our home will sell, For flexibility, I need temp jobs in Interactive Media, Graphic Design, Web Design, etc. Is there a good temp agency?

We are moving from a very small town and a state whose population is less than Memphis. As a result, I don't even know what other questions to ask. I have never lived in a city this size. What do you think of Memphis? What should this small town person know?

Thank You so much!
SuJun

SuJun in Laramie, Wyoming said: It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to Memphis. Probably this summer. Where are the best places to live in and around Memphis? The folks my husband was interviewed by said everything from mid-town to Germantown/Collierville to Lakeland. What are these places like: shopping, culture, crime, etc.? Also what is the Bartlett and Lakeland area like?

My wife & family are in Collierville. WE located here from Upstate NY 10 years ago and I can say with conviction and honesty, choosing Collierville probably was one of the best choices I could of ever made. The towns dedication to serve their residents is second to none from trash to Fire & Police as well as their 911 system.

We leave Laramie on 7/31 for Memphis. I am so excited to get back to humidity, not so sure about the heat. We are both excited and a bit anxious. We are really energized, however, to explore the greater Memphis area and become familiar with a new culture.

Thank you.

Memphis is beautiful and have a lot of places to have fun clean fun for children, families,single parents. Where ever you go crime is everywhere. When you arrive in Memphis only you can make you happy. Example:Visit Elvis home go down Beale Street take a ride on the Trolly visit Historic places go to shows at the Orphem Threater and lots of eating place my favorit Marlow's on Elvis Presley I hope you enjoy and have fun.

We are here and having a grand time! Thank you everyone.

ROj said: Why move away from Blacks. Why are they so stupid, Its people really like you that someone would shy away from.

We moved where it was convenient to my husbands job and shopping. We were able to get a well priced rental home. As per blacks there are several in the neighborhood. It is an issue that is immaterial to me. I like diversity and we are looking for a church that is highly diverse: gender, age, and race/ethnicity. Unfortunately, with very sensitive ears I need a church with music that is not loud. Loud music gives me a severe migraine. A softer volume may mean it is not diverse.

Currently Memphis is, depending on the report you read, between the second to eighth worst city in the US. However, most crime is in pockets in the city. If you live in the wrong place, you are in trouble. If you live in an outlying suburb the police presence is better. Part of the problem . . . inadequate number of police. they cannot as many as they need.

SuJun in Laramie, Wyoming said: It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to Memphis. Probably this summer. Where are the best places to live in and around Memphis? The folks my husband was interviewed by said everything from mid-town to Germantown/Collierville to Lakeland. What are these places like: shopping, culture, crime, etc.? Also what is the Bartlett and Lakeland area like?

Your best areas are without question Collierville and Germantown. These two have the lowest crime rates, best public schools and great shopping. No other area in Shelby county is better. I have lived in this area for over 40 years. Trust me!!!!

Memphis is a nice place in spite of what people are saying. South and North Memphis mainly consist of mostly African Americans. East Memphis (Hickory Hill) consist of African American and Mexicans. Germantown, Collierville and Bartless consist of majority Caucasians. Downtown and Midtown are the older part of the city and is diverse. Regardless of where you chose, crime is every where and it doesn't matter what color. Let me know how you like here.

Hi,

I'm french and I'm going to live in memphis for 18 months. I would like a secure area. Could you give me the main aera ?
I'm looking for furnished apartment, do you know the price of it?
If you have any agency contact...

Thank you very much

SuJun in Laramie, Wyoming said: It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to Memphis. Probably this summer. Where are the best places to live in and around Memphis? The folks my husband was interviewed by said everything from mid-town to Germantown/Collierville to Lakeland. What are these places like: shopping, culture, crime, etc.? Also what is the Bartlett and Lakeland area like?

Arlington is the best place as of right now. Collierville is great in most places and germantown is pretty good as well. But i'd have to say Arlington is the place to be if your looking for an investment and a clean/safe inviroment.

It seems most of cordova is now Memphis and taxes are high and houses are for sale everywhere. you can get a good deal there ,but crime is coming.Apartments there might be a ok choice.I still say Arlington is THE place to be .
Small town atmosphere and GREAT schools. It's growing like crazy (from a small town square)Into The next Collierville.Just bought a house there for the investment side of it.The town is happy they just got a Mcdonalds LOL.

My advice
check Arlington out and buy now.

you will be able to get anywhere pretty quick.
385 will be complete soon !

JD in Memphis, Tennessee said: Arlington is the best place as of right now. Collierville is great in most places and germantown is pretty good as well. But i'd have to say Arlington is the place to be if your looking for an investment and a clean/safe inviroment.

Seriously, Memphis is a great city. The crime is not that bad. I've livedhere for 11 years and love it. No city is perfect, I admit, but this is my city. I hateis with passion, but love it with some pride.

What do you think about the following areas :
- the Chickasaw Gardens area
- High Point
- Mud Island
- Downtown

I'm a young french profesional and I'm looking for an appartment ---) safe and dynamic area, near from downtown.

Thank you !

What about Bartlett and Cordova? those are good areas too. Although, If you want to live in Cordova live east of Germantown Parkway. If you live west of Germantown Parkway in Cordova, you will be annexed in Memphis and have to pay city taxes. Also, If you live west of Germantown Parkway, in Cordova, those areas seem to be rising in crime.

Is there such a thing as safe for renters who are broke and unable to buy in Memphis?

I am a Memphian, I've live here most of my
Life, except when I went away to college. Memphis has changed so much. Politics, crime, poverty to name a few. For one, this is a very racially divided city. It is your old time Southern city. Whites don't want to live in neighborhoods with African Americans, African Americans, Don't want to live in neighborhoods with Mexicans. Sorry to say,but it is whAt it is, but "CRIME" is scary. I hear people saying crime is everywhere, true stayment, but this city has no breaks. There are "ghetto" areas, but this does not necessarily mean blacks, whites as well as Hispanics. Be watchful and safe. I'm an Educated middle class married African American ready to get out any day!!!!

SuJun in Laramie, Wyoming said: It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to Memphis. Probably this summer. Where are the best places to live in and around Memphis? The folks my husband was interviewed by said everything from mid-, culture, crime, etc.? Also what is the Bartlett and Lakeland area like?

I have stayed in Memphis all my life and the best place to live by far is Colliervile. It has is own community and mall and is 15 minutes away from Memphis. Another good place woulde be Lakeland. Its quiet and country, but is a little far from everything else. Its a beautiful quiet place though! If I had a choice I would live in Collierville.

I have NEVER EVER in my life witenessed more ignorance in one city as you see everyday in Memphis.

HAPPY in Memphis, Tennessee said: Memphis is a nice place in spite of what people are saying. South and North Memphis mainly consist of mostly African Americans. East Memphis (Hickory Hill) consist of African American and Mexicans. Germantown, Collierville and Bartless consist of majority Caucasians. Downtown and Midtown are the older part of the city and is diverse. Regardless of where you chose, crime is every where and it doesn't matter what color. Let me know how you like here.

We love it here! We go to a dynamic demographically diverse church. We adore the culture and musn't forget Corky's and Muddy's.

ROj said: Why move away from Blacks. Why are they so stupid, Its people really like you that someone would shy away from.

Actually moving from the nearly homogenus caucasian Wyoming to Memphis is the opposite of 'move away from Blacks.'

HAPPY in Memphis, Tennessee said: Memphis is a nice place in spite of what people are saying. South and North Memphis mainly consist of mostly African Americans. East Memphis (Hickory Hill) consist of African American and Mexicans. Germantown, Collierville and Bartless consist of majority Caucasians. Downtown and Midtown are the older part of the city and is diverse. Regardless of where you chose, crime is every where and it doesn't matter what color. Let me know how you like here.

i'm thinking of buying a place in an area near hickory hill. can someone tell me if that is a good or bad area?

We love Memphis! Until our house sells out West we are renting. We found a demographically diverse church so we are thrilled with that. Overall we are loving Memphis!

SO in Los Angeles, California said: i'm thinking of buying a place in an area near hickory hill. can someone tell me if that is a good or bad area?

Hell no... Hickory Hill is where they moved all the inner city ghetto trash as they cleaned up the inner city... Gangs Crime falling property values... if that sound good to you... go for it...

sounds.... I almost sound like what I was describing

Collierville, Tenn
Olive Branch, Miss
Arlington, Tenn
Good luck. Get you carry permit.

I'm considering relocating from Harrisburg, PA to the Memphis area and I was wondering what are the public schools like? I have a 10year old daughter and my 70year old grandmother that will be moving also. Just wanted to know the best areas to consider. We live in the center of the "hood" where we are now (I have my firearm license and carry always). We don't want to move to a country setting but we don't want to be in the center of the hood either..can anyone offer any suggestions

I am a 21 year old guy graduating from LSU in May. I am moving to Memphis for my job in June 2011 and am curious where young people live.

If anyone could please write a little about these places I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to live in a place that has nightlife. If anybody knows what rents go for in these areas that would be extremely helpful. Right now I am really considering downtown and Harbor Town/Mud Island.

-Downtown
-Cooper Young
-Harbor Town/Mud Island
-Germantown
-Midtown

Relo in Arlington, Tennessee said: Hi,
Just saw your request posted a couple of months ago. In the event that you are still relocating to the Memphis and have questions, please email me. I will make an effort to answer what questions that you may have.

Hi Relo, I read you have lived in Memphis and I was hoping you could help me out with the living situation. I am a 21 year old guy graduating from LSU in May. I am moving to Memphis for my job in June 2011 and am curious where young people live.

I would like to live in an area with an active nightlife. Also, I have heard a lot about crime, are any of these areas places I should live away from. Right know I am highly considering Downtown, Cooper Young and Harbor Town/Mud Island, what do you think of those areas for a young guy

-Downtown
-Cooper Young
-Harbor Town/Mud Island
-Germantown
-Midtown

I was born and raised in Memphis and just moved away a few years ago, but my family and friends are still there so I visit all the time. I'm actually relocating back South and was checking out the reliability of blogs by checking what people say on here - after reading these posts, I know only the bad is being portrayed by folks that have had a bad experience, which is a reality of life I suppose.

Memphis is an awesome city. It took moving away (to NYC) to appreciate it more than I did. I was raised in the suburbs and if you are looking for a quiet place to raise children with good school systems, those neighborhoods listed above are all fine. I personally find the "white-flight" to be a horrific phenom, but was myself raised in Bartlett in the 80's and 90's and guess it wasn't until I moved to mid-town Memphis post-undergrad that I realized how much Memphis has to offer when you really embrace the diversity. Midtow IS Memphis (bumper stickers everywhere will confirm this). Regardless of your age, if you're looking for a socially enriching area with wonderful restaurants and bars, check out the the Cooper-Young area (which is the same as Midtown). It's got a little bit of everything. I lived on Poplar near Overton Park - loved it. I also lived at the Gilmore, which is a great apt building with a lovely little Italian pizzaria/grocery store on the ground floor. Downtown is also growing, but there is less of a cultural vibe and clearly that's where the tourists live. Harbor Town is not very convenient from a travel prospective, but it is a beautiful area. Jerry West lived there for reference of the type.

I'm an attorney and my speciality isn't needed in Memphis, which is a shame. If I could move anywhere, I'd move back to Memphis - it's really a small big town where folks are really genuinely nice and welcoming. I never had a single issue with crime, just use common sense. Good luck and enjoy Memphis enough for me too please!

sosweet in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania said: I'm considering relocating from Harrisburg, PA to the Memphis area and I was wondering what are the public schools like? I have a 10year old daughter and my 70year old grandmother that will be moving also. Just wanted to know the best areas to consider. We live in the center of the "hood" where we are now (I have my firearm license and carry always). We don't want to move to a country setting but we don't want to be in the center of the hood either..can anyone offer any suggestions

Memphis city schools get a bad rap, but there are plenty of Memphis city schools that are great. White Station, Central, and Overton are good schools. You really don't need a gun to live there - there are really dangerous areas of Memphis, but there are completely affordable areas that are safe. For decent schools, look in the midtown area.

County schools are generally ranked higher because they are in areas with higher property taxes, best bets are Cordova/Germantown, but they are further away from downtown and are much more suburban (though Memphis is a sprawling city - the areas abover where just country roads when I was growing up). Good luck!

Mike in Baton Rouge, Louisiana said: I am a 21 year old guy graduating from LSU in May. I am moving to Memphis for my job in June 2011 and am curious where young people live.

If anyone could please write a little about these places I would greatly appreciate it. I would like to live in a place that has nightlife. If anybody knows what rents go for in these areas that would be extremely helpful. Right now I am really considering downtown and Harbor Town/Mud Island.

-Downtown
-Cooper Young
-Harbor Town/Mud Island
-Germantown
-Midtown

My husband's from New Orleans and lived in Memphis with me before we moved up North. As noted in my post below, I'd really recommend Cooper Young or Downtown. Harbor Town is really expensive and not very convenient from a commuting standpoint and Germantown is just far away from all the great bars and restaurants.

Ok so to sum it up, I'm from Little Rock and I'm a soon to be divorcee with two sons. My dad and stepmom as well ad my stepbrother live in Memphis so if I look at any other city to relocate that's why I would choose mtown...every other person important to me lives here in Ar. My background is recent undergraduate degree in speech, 10 years at one job doing billing/clerical no major skill except degree,strong clerical support background, home health background and motivation. How realistic is it for me to start over in Memphis with no job and 8 to 10 thousand dollars??? I'm on a iPhone so I briefed this convo up pardon me!

Another concern of course is crime with two black male sons one who is 15 other 8. Great kids great in school would not want to screw that up but I really need a new life and environment. I just want to live decent like I do in LR within a middle class area and school minus the hood which I'm no stranger to. The schools they attend are diverse which is important for me no all black or all white schools!!!

Host said: Where is the good life? For families? Singles?

Midtown is my favorite place in all of Memphis, besides Downtown during Memphis in May. I was born and raised in Memphis, and even though, yes there is a very real criminal element to the city, Midtown and Downtown can be very awesome. Great bars, shops, music, people, everything you could ask for. Central Gardens and Mud Island I think are probably the safest places in "Memphis"

There are also a lot of people that work in Memphis, but live east of memphis in "mostly" nicer areas like germantown, cordova, collierville, etc. They are cities, but most Memphians consider them subdivisions of Memphis given their proximity :P

Look up events for midtown, particularly the Cooper Young area, they have quite a few arts/crafts/various festivals every year. I actually live not far now. Yes there is ghetto right down the street, but drive a couple blocks the other way and you might run into million dollar houses.

I stay here, and I hate this place. I grew up here. This place gets worse and worse. This place is boring, and cant get pass 1947.

I left and HAD to come back because I was in a real sticky situation. When I first got back it seemed like I stepped out of a time machine that went back into the past. Now that most of my situations are fixed, I cant wait to leave again.

I stay in the South Memphis area.

Look, Memphis is a very backward thinking strange city that squandered its opportunities in the late 70s and particularly the 80s. I spent over 15 years living in Germantown, working as a senior executive in Memphis.

I have had the experience of living all over the south, midwest and attended schools in the northeast.

Memphis is, BY FAR the worst city in which I have ever lived---hands down.

Crime is only one drawback. The biggest negatives are intransigence, ingorance and racism (on all sides mind you). You might as well live in The State of Mississippi, because it's more like Mississippi than anywhere else in TN.

If you have a choice, choose Nashville over Memphis ANYDAY of the week...if you have no choice, make the best of it and MOVE out on a transfer or just build your resume for the next career move to a dynamic, progressive city in the south...perhaps Charlotte, Raleigh, Austin, Tampa Bay, NOVA, a few cities in SC even.

Don't waste your life in this cesspool of thought, it's not changing in the next 20 years ! If you have that kind of time, then Memphis is for YOU.

I told my spouse I would never EVER rear children in that stupid town.

Memphis is a parochial, insular, piece of crap of a city by comparison.

guess who? again in Jersey City, New Jersey said: Look, Memphis is a very backward thinking strange city that squandered its opportunities in the late 70s and particularly the 80s. I spent over 15 years living in Germantown, working as a senior executive in Memphis.

I have had the experience of living all over the south, midwest and attended schools in the northeast.

Memphis is, BY FAR the worst city in which I have ever lived---hands down.

Crime is only one drawback. The biggest negatives are intransigence, ingorance and racism (on all sides mind you). You might as well live in The State of Mississippi, because it's more like Mississippi than anywhere else in TN.

If you have a choice, choose Nashville over Memphis ANYDAY of the week...if you have no choice, make the best of it and MOVE out on a transfer or just build your resume for the next career move to a dynamic, progressive city in the south...perhaps Charlotte, Raleigh, Austin, Tampa Bay, NOVA, a few cities in SC even.

Don't waste your life in this cesspool of thought, it's not changing in the next 20 years ! If you have that kind of time, then Memphis is for YOU.

I told my spouse I would never EVER rear children in that stupid town.

Memphis is a parochial, insular, piece of crap of a city by comparison.

I agree. Especially with the racism on both ends. And like you, I would NOT want to have children in this dump.

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Memphis within the next year because of family and business ties in ark. However, I have reservations. We live in Columbia, MO which is a small progressive college city. The population here is diverse and most neighborhoods are fully integrated. There is no black side/white side of columbia. I want to raise my children in a diverse community that reflects american society. Where are the diverse neighborhoods?

shannon in Columbia, Missouri said: My husband and I are thinking of moving to Memphis within the next year because of family and business ties in ark. However, I have reservations. We live in Columbia, MO which is a small progressive college city. The population here is diverse and most neighborhoods are fully integrated. There is no black side/white side of columbia. I want to raise my children in a diverse community that reflects american society. Where are the diverse neighborhoods?

There are no diverse neighborhoods. In fact there is no diversity at all in the entire Memphis area

Fedup in Memphis TN is correct. I am Still trying to get out of this dump.

I encourage anyone to pick other cities to live in- I lived in Collierville for several years (not a terrbile suburb), but the whole area is 35 years behind most other cities, and these people actually THINK they are some cutting edge city ! give me a BREAK !! it's not advanced as Nashville, or Raleigh or Austin, or Tampa, or Charlotte. It suffers because most of the idiots come from places like Mississippi and Arkansas or ssshtbird TN towns such as Gleason, Union City, Dyersburg, Martin, Jackson and the like.

The place is horrible ! bad drivers, nasty food, stupid people, bad schools, racism on both sides/everywhere, bad leaders, stupid police, bad politics.

Tons of better places to live