Is Hilltop safe?
Murfreesboro, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Hilltop as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Hilltop
“Go. Hilltop is a peaceful, predominantly residential suburban area in Murfreesboro that presents minimal violent crime risk for visitors. While you should take standard precautions against opportunistic car theft, the area is safe and welcoming.”
About the area
Hilltop is a classic suburban neighborhood in Murfreesboro located within easy driving distance of Middle Tennessee State University. The community consists mostly of established single-family subdivisions, quiet residential side streets, and nearby strip malls.
- Suburban
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Hilltop
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 32/100
No bike-share programs operate in Hilltop, but cyclists can connect to paved sections of the Murfreesboro Greenway Network within a short ride.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to broader state averages
- High rate of owner-occupied single-family homes supporting neighborhood stability
- Close proximity to MTSU campus facilities, cultural events, and Rutherford County parks
- High household vehicle ownership and easy highway connectivity
Cons
- Periodic opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked vehicle break-ins
- Lack of continuous sidewalks and dedicated pedestrian crossings
- Heavy vehicular traffic during rush hour along adjacent connecting corridors
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is negligible within Hilltop's residential streets, with any panhandling or unhoused presence concentrated primarily along major commercial corridors like South Church Street.
What Hilltop is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful atmosphere with school buses and residents commuting, feeling completely secure.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet residential traffic with standard neighborhood activity and virtually no safety concerns.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and family-oriented, suitable for evening walks around subdivision loops.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and dark with low ambient lighting, where standard nighttime awareness is sensible.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Murfreesboro Rover bus system with nearby routes connecting to downtown and MTSU, though service is infrequent and car ownership is largely required.
Free residential street parking and private driveways are plentiful throughout the neighborhood without meters or time limits.
Things to do in Hilltop
- Explore the nearby Murfreesboro Greenway System for walking, running, and river views
- Attend a cultural event, concert, or sporting match at Middle Tennessee State University
- Visit historic Cannonsburgh Village a short drive away to tour preserved 19th-century buildings
Local favorites
- Slick Pig BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (2400)Beloved local institution known for smoked wings, pulled pork sandwiches, and fruit tea.
- The Alley on Main · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (2150)Family-owned downtown eatery delivering scratch-made Southern comfort food and pasta dishes.
- Brass Horn Coffee Roasters · Coffee Shop · 4.8★ (520)Specialty coffee bar and roaster serving artisanal espresso drinks in an airy setting.
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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