Is Lakeland safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Lakeland as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Lakeland
“Go. Lakeland is an exceptionally safe, quiet, and affluent suburb located northeast of Memphis. Visitors will find virtually no violent crime risks, though a personal vehicle is necessary to explore the area.”
About the area
Lakeland is a sprawling, scenic suburban municipality in Shelby County known for tree-lined residential subdivisions, Garner Lake, and well-maintained municipal parks. It offers a calm, peaceful atmosphere with commercial retail corridors primarily concentrated along Highway 64 and Interstate 40.
- Quiet Suburb
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Sprawling
Walking and biking in Lakeland
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There are no bike-share programs in Lakeland, and cycling infrastructure is limited to internal park paths and quiet residential subdivisions rather than on-street protected lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates are among the lowest in the entire Memphis metropolitan area.
- High median household income well over $110,000 paired with a poverty rate under 4%.
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained neighborhoods provide a safe and stable environment.
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with virtually no walkability between residential areas and shopping centers.
- Lack of public transit connections to downtown Memphis or regional hubs.
- Occasional vehicle burglaries or opportunistic property theft in unmonitored retail parking lots.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent in Lakeland, with no established encampments or panhandling hot spots in the area.
What Lakeland is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with local residents jogging through subdivision streets and running errands along Highway 64.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and family-oriented, with light retail activity around shopping plazas and no safety concerns.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and secure, with activity centered around local dining establishments and quiet residential streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very tranquil and virtually empty; streets are safe, though residential roads are dark and require careful driving.
Transit, parking and getting around
Lakeland is not served by Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) fixed-route bus service, and there is no passenger rail or BRT connection. Travel around the municipality requires a private vehicle or rideshare service.
Parking is abundant and entirely free across large surface lots at strip centers, municipal parks, and civic facilities.
Things to do in Lakeland
- Walk the wooded trails, fish, or host a picnic around the 5-acre lake at International Harvester (IH) Manager's Park.
- Play a round of recreational disc golf amidst rolling green terrain at IH Clubhouse Park.
- Browse local boutiques and dining spots along the US Highway 64 commercial corridor.
Local favorites
- Thai Bistro Lakeland · Thai Restaurant · 4.6★ (420)A cozy, family-friendly spot serving classic curries, noodle dishes, and stir-fries along Highway 64.
- Margaritas Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.3★ (850)Lively neighborhood staple offering traditional Mexican platters, fajitas, and extensive drink options.
- Rock'n Dough Pizza + Brewery · Pizza & Brewery · 4.3★ (680)Casual eatery serving craft beers brewed in-house alongside artisan specialty pizzas and wings.
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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