Is North Memphis South safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates North Memphis South as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on North Memphis South
“Skip unless you have specific business, community ties, or are visiting a designated landmark during daylight. North Memphis experiences violent and property crime rates significantly higher than both state and national averages. Casual tourism is not recommended due to persistent safety concerns and widespread urban blight.”
Memphis Police Department regularly increases targeted patrols in the North Memphis sector due to recurring gun violence and commercial property theft.
About the area
North Memphis South is a historic urban neighborhood situated just northeast of Downtown Memphis characterized by older single-family homes, industrial corridors, and commercial thoroughfares like Chelsea and Jackson Avenues. The area struggles with long-term disinvestment, high vacancy rates, and limited visitor-oriented amenities.
- Distressed
- Industrial Edge
- Historic
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in North Memphis South
Walk score: 53/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse within the immediate neighborhood, with limited protected lanes; the nearest connection to the Wolf River Greenway requires cycling along shared roadways without dedicated lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Close physical proximity to Downtown Memphis and the Medical District
- Rich local civil rights, blues, and gospel heritage
- Active grassroots community development initiatives working to restore local parks
Cons
- Violent crime rates substantially exceed national and regional benchmarks
- High poverty rate exceeding 40% with elevated residential and commercial vacancy
- Prevalent property crimes including motor vehicle theft and residential burglary
- Limited commercial infrastructure, full-service grocery stores, and tourism services
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, particularly near vacant lots, bus stops, and around major thoroughfares connecting toward downtown. Several community aid resources and shelters operate slightly west along the downtown edge.
What North Memphis South is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively quiet with local commuter and commercial traffic, though general vigilance is recommended on foot.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Activity increases along major corridors like Chelsea Avenue; stick to main streets and secure your vehicle.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pedestrian safety risks rise noticeably as daylight fades and street-level visibility diminishes.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking is strongly discouraged late at night due to heightened risk of violent encounters and opportunistic crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) serves the neighborhood via bus routes such as Route 8 (Chelsea) and Route 42 (Crosstown). The nearest rail connection is the Main Street Trolley system in Downtown Memphis, roughly 1.5 to 2 miles southwest.
Free on-street parking is generally easy to find throughout residential and commercial streets, though off-street secured parking is scarce and leaving valuables visible in parked cars is strictly advised against.
Things to do in North Memphis South
- Visit Bickford Community Center and Park for neighborhood recreation facilities
- Explore historic African American heritage sites and legacy churches along Jackson Avenue
- Drive through to appreciate historic early 20th-century vernacular architecture
Local favorites
- Cozy Corner Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (2150)Legendary smokehouse nearby known for its signature Cornish hen, ribs, and barbecue barbecue spaghetti.
- Alcenia's · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.7★ (1420)Celebrated destination serving homestyle soul food, famous desserts, and warm hospitality just southwest of the area.
- Roxie's Grocery · Corner Store & Deli · 4.5★ (380)Neighborhood staple widely acclaimed for massive, freshly made burgers and Southern sides.
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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