Is Green Hills 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 Green Hills South East as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Green Hills South East
“Go. Green Hills South East is one of the safest and most affluent residential pockets in Nashville, characterized by quiet wooded streets and stately homes. Visitors will find exceptionally low rates of violent crime and a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. Standard suburban vigilance against opportunistic property crime like unlocked vehicle theft is all that is required.”
Recent local updates focus on retail developments along Hillsboro Pike and traffic calming initiatives on residential cut-through streets rather than serious crime concerns.
About the area
Located just south of downtown Nashville, Green Hills South East consists of upscale mid-century and modern single-family estates set against lush rolling hills. It borders the high-end retail corridor of Hillsboro Pike while maintaining a tranquil, purely residential neighborhood character. Visitors come for world-class shopping nearby, historic music venues, and leafy neighborhood strolls.
- Affluent
- Quiet / Residential
- Tree-Lined
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Green Hills South East
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 32/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse on interior residential streets, and the area does not directly link to the Metro Greenway network without riding along busy, narrow roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low violent crime rate compared to both Nashville and national benchmarks
- High median household incomes well exceeding $150,000 and near-zero residential vacancy
- Pristine, well-maintained housing stock on quiet, heavily canopied suburban lots
- Proximity to premier dining, luxury shopping, and iconic local music landmarks
Cons
- Occasional vehicle break-ins and package theft typical of affluent residential areas
- Almost completely car-dependent with minimal sidewalk infrastructure outside commercial nodes
- Heavy commuter congestion during rush hours along bounding arterial corridors like Hillsboro Pike
- Limited public transit coverage and frequency connecting to central Nashville
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in the residential southeast quadrant of Green Hills, though occasional panhandling may occur near major commercial intersections along Hillsboro Pike.
What Green Hills South East is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene as residents jog, walk dogs, and commute along quiet, winding neighborhood roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and residential with light traffic, making it completely safe and easy to navigate.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued and cozy with minimal street activity outside the nearby commercial dining hubs along the main pike.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet due to minimal street lighting, but exceptionally safe with virtually no pedestrian or criminal activity.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit operates Route 7 along Hillsboro Pike connecting Green Hills to downtown Nashville, though interior residential streets have no transit access and Nashville lacks a rail transit system.
Parking is exceptionally easy with abundant private driveways and free, plentiful parking lots and garages at shopping centers along Hillsboro Pike.
Things to do in Green Hills South East
- Experience intimate singer-songwriter performances at the legendary Bluebird Cafe just down the road
- Explore luxury fashion, upscale dining, and boutique shopping at The Mall at Green Hills and Hill Center
- Enjoy an afternoon drive or scenic neighborhood walk along the winding, tree-lined residential estates
Local favorites
- The Bluebird Cafe · Live Music Venue & Listening Room · 4.6★ (1820)World-renowned 90-seat music club where top songwriters perform acoustic rounds in an intimate setting.
- Fox's Donut Den · Bakery / Donut Shop · 4.6★ (1140)A beloved Green Hills institution serving classic glazed donuts, apple fritters, and coffee since 1973.
- ETC. Restaurant · Fine Dining / New American · 4.6★ (690)Chef Deb Paquette's sophisticated neighborhood bistro serving inventive, globally inspired dishes and craft cocktails.
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.