Is Hillsboro-West End South East safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Hillsboro-West End South East as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Hillsboro-West End South East
“Go. Hillsboro-West End South East is one of Nashville's safest, most desirable, and picturesque neighborhoods. Visitors can stroll the historic, tree-lined residential streets and university corridors with virtually no violent crime concerns, keeping standard awareness regarding vehicle security.”
About the area
Tucked alongside Belmont University and Vanderbilt University, Hillsboro-West End South East is an upscale, historic neighborhood characterized by 1920s craftsman homes and leafy side streets. It offers a relaxed collegiate-meets-residential charm with easy walking access to the shops and dining of Hillsboro Village.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Collegiate
- Family-Friendly
- Walkable Dining Hub
Walking and biking in Hillsboro-West End South East
Walk score: 72/100 · Bike score: 68/100
Nashville BCycle stations are positioned near Hillsboro Village and the Belmont campus, connecting cyclists to painted bike lanes and the nearby 440 Greenway.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low violent crime rate well below the Nashville metropolitan average
- High household income levels and pristine, well-kept historic housing stock
- Close proximity to Vanderbilt and Belmont security patrols enhancing general street surveillance
Cons
- Opportunistic vehicle break-ins occasionally target cars parked along campus fringes
- Street parking can become congested during university terms and events
- Interior residential side streets can be dimly lit late at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in the residential interior. Occasional panhandling occurs along the commercial nodes of 21st Avenue South and Wedgewood Avenue, but encampments are not present.
What Hillsboro-West End South East is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Vibrant and safe with early joggers, dog walkers, and faculty walking toward campus.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Pleasant and quiet across residential blocks, with moderate foot traffic near 21st Avenue.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively yet relaxed as diners fill neighborhood cafes and residents walk the quiet avenues.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Calm and peaceful with minimal pedestrian activity; very safe, though side streets are dark.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit operates Route 7 (Hillsboro Pike) along 21st Avenue South, providing direct bus connections to Downtown Nashville every 15-20 minutes. There is no passenger rail station in this district.
Free on-street parking is common on residential side streets, though certain blocks require residential permits. Paid commercial parking lots and garages near Hillsboro Village generally cost between $3 and $6 per hour.
Things to do in Hillsboro-West End South East
- Stroll along tree-canopied streets to admire preserved early-20th-century Craftsman and Tudor architecture
- Browse the boutiques, record shops, and eateries along neighboring 21st Avenue South
- Explore the historic Belmont Mansion and surrounding university gardens just across Wedgewood Avenue
Local favorites
- Fido · Cafe & Coffee Shop · 4.5★ (3200)Historic pet-shop-turned-cafe serving artisanal coffee and locally sourced all-day breakfast.
- Proper Bagel · Bakery & Bagel Shop · 4.4★ (1450)Modern New York-style bagel shop known for inventive cream cheese spreads and gourmet toasts.
- Pancake Pantry · Breakfast Restaurant · 4.3★ (6800)Legendary Nashville morning destination famous for scratch-made pancakes and comfort food.
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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