Is Westwood North safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Westwood North as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Westwood North
“Skip for general tourism. While the area contains long-standing residential pockets, significantly elevated rates of violent and property crime present considerable safety risks for unfamiliar visitors. Outside of visiting specific community institutions or passing through to nearby regional parks, there is little infrastructure or reason for casual exploration.”
Southwest Memphis precincts continue to see focused police patrol initiatives aimed at curbing localized gun violence and widespread motor vehicle theft.
About the area
Westwood North is a residential and semi-industrial neighborhood in Southwest Memphis, situated just south of Interstate 55 and east of US-61 (South Third Street). The area is characterized by mid-century single-story brick homes, wooded lots, and light-industrial facilities bordering major freight corridors. It is strictly non-touristic, lacking walkable entertainment or dining districts.
- Car-Dependent
- Industrial Edge
- Quiet Residential Grid
Walking and biking in Westwood North
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There are no dedicated on-street bike lanes or Explore Bike Share stations in the neighborhood, though recreational multi-use paved trails exist inside nearby T.O. Fuller State Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quick vehicular access to Interstate 55 and the broader Memphis logistics corridor
- Close proximity to major regional green spaces including T.O. Fuller State Park
- Ample unmetered parking throughout residential streets and shopping plazas
Cons
- Violent crime and property offense rates are substantially higher than state and national averages
- Poverty rate exceeds 25% alongside noticeable residential vacancies and blighted parcels
- Limited commercial retail and dining options within the neighborhood boundaries
- Substantial car dependency with poor pedestrian infrastructure and discontinuous sidewalks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is uncommon within the interior residential blocks, though occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed near commercial strips along South Third Street.
What Westwood North is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively quiet with local residents commuting and standard delivery traffic moving along primary corridors.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Activity picks up slightly around neighborhood schools and service stops, but remaining observant is recommended.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets quiet down quickly after sunset, and pedestrian foot traffic drops significantly as visibility declines.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking is strongly discouraged late at night due to limited illumination, isolated corridors, and higher risks of violent crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) serves the corridor via bus routes including Route 39 (South Third) and Route 12 (Florida), but service frequencies are limited and there is no light rail or BRT connection.
Parking is straightforward with free, unmetered curbside parking on all residential streets and abundant surface lots at local businesses.
Things to do in Westwood North
- Hike the nature trails and explore the wetlands at adjacent T.O. Fuller State Park
- Tour the historic C.H. Nash Museum at the Chucalissa Archaeological Site just west of the neighborhood
- Visit local historic community churches such as Greater Middle Baptist Church
Local favorites
- Coletta's Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1420)Historic South Memphis staple located just north along US-61, famed for inventing Memphis barbecue pizza.
- Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken · Southern / Fried Chicken · 4.5★ (3450)Beloved local diner featured on national food programs, known for sweet-spicy dipped chicken and honey butter biscuits.
- C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa · Museum / Archaeological Site · 4.5★ (260)University of Memphis-managed museum preserving a prehistoric Mississippian mound complex.
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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