Is Fisk Area safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Fisk Area as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Fisk Area
“Go with care. While Fisk University's historic campus and the Jefferson Street corridor offer rich African American cultural heritage and campus security, the surrounding neighborhood experiences elevated rates of violent and property crime. Stick to main campus grounds and primary commercial corridors during daylight hours, and avoid wandering poorly lit side streets after dark.”
North Nashville corridors including Jefferson Street have been the focus of increased metro violence-interruption initiatives following periodic local gunfire incidents.
About the area
The Fisk Area is a storied North Nashville neighborhood anchored by historic Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. It features significant architectural landmarks, African American art collections, and long-standing community businesses along Jefferson Street. Ongoing revitalization sits alongside historic residential blocks and urban challenges.
- Historic / Collegiate
- HBCU Enclave
- Culturally Rich
- Urban / Developing
Walking and biking in Fisk Area
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Nashville BCycle offers docking stations near Fisk and Meharry campuses, with on-street bike lanes along 17th Avenue North connecting south toward Midtown.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Dedicated campus safety patrols and emergency call boxes across Fisk University and Meharry Medical College.
- Rich concentration of historic civil rights landmarks and world-class African American art galleries.
- Close proximity to downtown Nashville with short transit and ride-share commute times.
Cons
- Violent crime and theft rates in surrounding North Nashville sectors exceed metro and national averages.
- Elevated poverty rates exceeding 30% in several neighboring census tracts.
- Uneven pedestrian infrastructure and sparse lighting on residential side streets off main avenues.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately noticeable along major commercial corridors such as Jefferson Street and near interstate overpasses, though large encampments directly on university grounds are rare.
What Fisk Area is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with students, faculty, and hospital staff commuting to campus buildings.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Moderate foot traffic along Jefferson Street and around university lawns, generally comfortable for visitors.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Commercial activity winds down early; main avenues remain illuminated but caution is warranted when walking away from campus.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets empty out significantly and safety risks rise due to higher rates of nocturnal property crime and sporadic violence.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit services the area primarily via Route 19 (Herman) and Route 22 (Bordeaux), providing direct 10- to 15-minute bus connections to WeGo Central downtown.
Unmetered on-street parking is widely available along residential streets and adjacent to campus, alongside visitor-designated surface lots operated by the university.
Things to do in Fisk Area
- View the Aaron Douglas murals and Stieglitz Art Collection inside the Carl Van Vechten Gallery at Fisk University.
- Photograph and tour the historic grounds of Jubilee Hall, the first permanent building erected for African American higher education in the South.
- Explore the civil rights history, murals, and independent heritage shops along the Historic Jefferson Street corridor.
Local favorites
- EG&MC · Cocktail Bar · 4.6★ (320)A chic, comfortable neighborhood lounge serving craft cocktails, tapas, and weekend brunch along Jefferson Street.
- Alkebu-Lan Images Bookstore · Bookstore · 4.9★ (260)A long-standing cultural bookstore and community center specializing in African and African American literature, art, and imports.
- Woodcuts Gallery & Framing · Art Gallery · 4.8★ (140)An established local gallery showcasing contemporary 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.