Is Forest Hills safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Forest Hills as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Forest Hills
“Go. Forest Hills is an exceptionally safe, tranquil, and affluent residential community in the southern Nashville metro area. Visitors face virtually no violent crime risks, though the area is strictly residential and completely car-dependent.”
About the area
Forest Hills is an upscale satellite city known for heavily wooded rolling hills, multi-acre estates, and close proximity to natural preserves like Radnor Lake. The neighborhood operates under strict zoning regulations that maintain a quiet, country-suburban feel with no commercial sprawl.
- Affluent / Estates
- Lush & Wooded
- Quiet Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Forest Hills
Walk score: 7/100 · Bike score: 18/100
There are no Nashville BCycle stations in Forest Hills; while experienced road cyclists frequently ride the hilly corridors, roads lack dedicated bike lanes or multi-use path infrastructure.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Virtually nonexistent violent crime and exceptionally low property crime rates
- Median household income well exceeding $200,000 paired with near-zero poverty rates
- Direct adjacency to pristine outdoor recreation at Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Cons
- Lack of commercial infrastructure within city limits requires driving for dining and retail
- Narrow, winding roadways lack sidewalks and streetlights, posing hazards for roadside pedestrians
- Complete absence of internal public transit connectivity
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent in Forest Hills, with no encampments or panhandling present.
What Forest Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and scenic, with occasional joggers and wildlife sharing the edges of quiet residential roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet with low vehicle traffic, feeling completely safe though pedestrians must watch for blind curves.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Tranquil and calm, though the lack of sidewalks and streetlights makes nighttime walking along roads ill-advised.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Virtually silent with zero foot traffic and extremely low crime risk throughout the night.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit Route 7 provides limited service along the Hillsboro Pike western border, but interior residential neighborhoods have no bus service or rapid transit access.
All parking is off-street in private driveways or dedicated state park lots; on-street parking along narrow municipal roads is largely prohibited.
Things to do in Forest Hills
- Hike the protected wildlife and lakeside trails at Radnor Lake State Natural Area
- Take a scenic drive under dense tree canopies along Otter Creek and Tyne Boulevard
- Visit nearby historic botanical gardens at Cheekwood Estate just minutes to the northwest
Local favorites
- Granny White Market · Deli & Convenience Store · 4.6★ (215)Longtime local outpost offering Southern breakfast biscuits, casual lunch fare, and pantry staples.
- Radnor Lake Visitor Center · Park / Information Center · 4.8★ (1420)State park hub featuring natural history exhibits, trail guides, and ranger-led program coordination.
- Firefly Grille · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (530)Nearby neighborhood bistro serving upscale comfort food and seasonal dishes along the Hillsboro corridor.
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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