Is North Nashville Southeast safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates North Nashville Southeast as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on North Nashville Southeast
“Go with care. North Nashville Southeast is steeped in rich civil rights and musical history along Jefferson Street, making it culturally rewarding to visit during daylight hours. However, crime rates remain noticeably higher than city averages, especially after dark, so visitors should maintain situational awareness.”
Local community development boards and Metro Nashville police have maintained targeted safety initiatives and pedestrian infrastructure upgrades along the Jefferson Street corridor.
About the area
This historic sector of North Nashville is anchored by celebrated institutions like Fisk University and Meharry Medical College, featuring iconic soul food, civil rights landmarks, and Afrocentric art galleries. While community pride is strong and revitalization is ongoing along key corridors, the area still faces economic disparities and pockets of higher crime.
- Historic / Cultural
- College Campus Vicinity
- Urban Transitioning
- Soul Food Hub
Walking and biking in North Nashville Southeast
Walk score: 62/100 · Bike score: 55/100
Nashville BCycle stations are accessible near university grounds, connecting to local designated bike lanes that link to the Cumberland River Greenway to the northeast.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Rich cultural and educational legacy anchored by Fisk University and Meharry Medical College
- Home to authentic heritage dining, soul food staples, and independent Black-owned businesses
- Convenient location just minutes northwest of Downtown Nashville and Germantown
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime rates remain significantly above national and Davidson County averages
- Census data indicates poverty rates above 25% in several local tracts alongside historical disinvestment
- Uneven street lighting and intermittent sidewalk maintenance on non-arterial residential blocks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present along main arterial corridors and highway underpasses near I-40/I-65, though large encampments are limited.
What North Nashville Southeast is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and calm around university campuses and commercial corridors as locals and students start their daily routines.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally bustling near eateries and cultural spots, making it the ideal time for visitors to explore with standard city awareness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Foot traffic drops off quickly once businesses close, and poorly lit residential side streets warrant greater vigilance.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking alone is not advised late at night due to higher rates of weapon offenses and opportunistic crimes.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit provides regular bus service through the area primarily via Route 22 (Bordeaux) and Route 19 (Herman), reaching WeGo Central in Downtown Nashville in approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Street parking is widely available and typically free on residential side streets and along commercial stretches of Jefferson Street, with rare need for paid garages.
Things to do in North Nashville Southeast
- Visit the historic Fisk University campus to view the Carl Van Vechten Gallery and Aaron Douglas murals
- Explore the historic Jefferson Street cultural corridor and its deep rhythm and blues legacy
- Discover local art, books, and cultural gifts at neighborhood galleries along D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard
Local favorites
- Silver Sands Cafe · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.5★ (880)Renowned cafeteria-style meat-and-three serving hearty Southern classics, hot water cornbread, and oxtails.
- Alkebu-Lan Images Bookstore · Bookstore · 4.8★ (210)Longstanding independent Afrocentric bookstore offering literature, art, and community discussion.
- Woodcuts Gallery & Framing · Art Gallery · 4.8★ (75)Staple neighborhood gallery showcasing African American fine art, prints, and custom framing.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
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