Is Cordova East safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Cordova East as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Cordova East
“Go. Cordova East is one of the safest suburban communities in the greater Memphis metro, offering peaceful residential subdivisions and convenient retail corridors. While standard vehicle precautions are advisable along busy thoroughfares, violent crime rates are exceptionally low compared to the city core.”
Local news in Cordova East primarily focuses on occasional commercial parking lot car break-ins along major thoroughfares and standard suburban infrastructure developments.
About the area
Cordova East is an expansive suburban enclave located in eastern Shelby County, characterized by quiet subdivisions, community parks, and strip-center shopping along major arterials. It offers a calm, family-oriented environment with easy driving access to nearby nature preserves, dining, and golf courses.
- Suburban / Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Cordova East
Walk score: 22/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There is no dedicated bike-share system in Cordova East, though recreational cyclists can easily access the nearby Shelby Farms Greenline and Tour de Wolf trails a short drive west.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to central Memphis
- Above-average median household income with high homeownership rates
- Well-maintained, newer housing stock and manicured residential subdivisions
- Ample access to suburban retail centers, grocery options, and parkland
Cons
- Opportunistic property crime and vehicle break-ins occur in commercial retail plazas
- Extremely car-dependent with virtually no pedestrian-friendly retail corridors
- Heavily congested arterial roads during peak rush hours
- Limited public transit connectivity to the rest of the metro area
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Cordova East, with only occasional individuals observed near major intersections along Germantown Parkway.
What Cordova East is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents jogging, dog walking, and commuting along quiet subdivision streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy around shopping plazas and school zones with typical suburban traffic and completely safe walking conditions.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and quiet in residential areas, while shopping strip centers experience standard dinner traffic with no major safety concerns.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and tranquil; streets are empty, and visitors should exercise routine situational awareness in commercial parking lots.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is managed by the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), but service to Cordova East is sparse; Route 53 provides limited connection along Summer Avenue, and no rail or BRT options exist.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area, with large surface parking lots at all commercial centers and easy residential driveway or street parking.
Things to do in Cordova East
- Walk or jog the scenic pathways at Bert Ferguson Community Center and Park
- Explore the nearby nature trails and lakes at Shelby Farms Park just to the west
- Play a round of golf at the nearby Colonial Country Club or local public driving ranges
Local favorites
- Tannoor Grill · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.6★ (1150)Popular churrascaria-style Mediterranean eatery serving skewered meats and fresh mezze platters.
- Casbah Restaurant · Middle Eastern Restaurant · 4.5★ (460)Relaxed strip-mall staple offering classic Middle Eastern specialties, gyros, and vegetarian fare.
- Cordova Bowling Center · Bowling Alley · 4.3★ (680)Family-friendly recreation center featuring traditional lanes, league play, and a classic snack bar.
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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