Is Hickory Hill West safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Hickory Hill West as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Hickory Hill West
“Go with care. Hickory Hill West is primarily an auto-centric residential and retail district that deals with elevated rates of property crime and violent crime relative to national benchmarks. Daytime visits for specific dining spots or shopping plazas are manageable with standard situational awareness, but night travel is best kept to a minimum.”
Memphis Police Department operations regularly target chronic property theft, reckless driving, and violent incidents across the commercial corridors of Hickory Hill.
About the area
Hickory Hill West is a suburban sector in southeast Memphis defined by 1970s and 1980s ranch-style subdivisions, multi-family housing, and strip retail corridors. While historically a bustling commercial epicenter, the area now functions as a working-class residential zone with notable international food options along Winchester Road.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Commercial Strips
- Residential
Walking and biking in Hickory Hill West
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 35/100
Biking infrastructure is minimal with few dedicated bike lanes on busy arterials, and the neighborhood lacks access to the Explore Bike Share system or the Memphis Greenline.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established residential subdivisions with quiet, tree-lined residential side streets
- Diverse collection of international grocers, Mexican taquerias, and traditional Memphis barbecue spots
- Convenient vehicle access to TN-385 (Bill Morris Parkway) and Interstate 240
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime indices significantly exceed national and state averages
- High risk of motor vehicle break-ins and auto theft in commercial parking lots and apartment complexes
- Pockets of retail vacancy and commercial infrastructure decline along major corridors
- Elevated poverty rate and lower median household income compared to outer Memphis suburbs
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, primarily consisting of individuals panhandling at high-traffic intersections along Winchester Road and Mendenhall Road, with few permanent encampments.
What Hickory Hill West is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are generally calm as residents commute and local retail opens, presenting minimal safety friction for daylight travel.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons bring heavier traffic to strip malls and commercial intersections; maintain awareness in busy retail parking areas.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity tapers toward grocery centers and casual dining; stay alert around gas stations and unlit parking areas as dusk falls.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights see increased risks of violent encounters, street racing, and property crime, making walking or idling strongly inadvisable.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) provides basic local bus service via routes such as Route 28 (Airport / Hickory Hill) and Route 56 (Lamar), with no passenger rail or BRT lines nearby.
Parking is abundant and free in strip mall surface lots, though vehicles should be locked with all valuables kept completely out of sight.
Things to do in Hickory Hill West
- Sample slow-smoked pork and ribs at established neighborhood barbecue joints
- Browse international grocery stores and specialty Hispanic bakeries along Winchester Road
- Utilize indoor courts, swimming facilities, and community programming at the nearby Hickory Hill Community Center
Local favorites
- Pollard's Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.4★ (740)Celebrated local smokehouse famous for tender pork ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and peach cobbler.
- Tops Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.3★ (820)Memphis chain outpost dishing out classic pit-cooked barbecue sandwiches and charcoal-grilled burgers.
- Los Comales · Mexican Restaurant · 4.2★ (510)Casual, vibrant dining room serving generous portions of tacos, fajitas, and traditional Mexican staples.
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.