Is Northeast Smyrna safe?
Murfreesboro, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Northeast Smyrna as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Northeast Smyrna
“Go. Northeast Smyrna is a quiet, family-oriented suburban community that offers exceptionally safe residential neighborhoods and close proximity to J. Percy Priest Lake. Violent crime is rare, and the area presents virtually no safety hazards for typical visitors.”
About the area
Northeast Smyrna is a peaceful, auto-oriented section of Rutherford County featuring modern single-family subdivisions, quiet culs-de-sac, and water-adjacent recreation. Situated just northeast of downtown Smyrna and the Smyrna Airport, it provides a relaxed residential atmosphere with convenient access to regional highways and parks.
- Quiet Suburban
- Lakeside Recreation
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Northeast Smyrna
Walk score: 22/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There is no bike-share program available, but the Smyrna Greenway provides dedicated paved multi-use paths connecting area parks, though arterial roads lack dedicated bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than both state and national averages.
- Strong economic profile with median household incomes exceeding $80,000 and high homeownership.
- Convenient access to water recreation, public parks, and golf facilities.
- Clean, well-maintained suburban infrastructure and quiet residential streets.
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked vehicle break-ins.
- Extreme car dependency with practically zero walkable retail within residential pockets.
- Heavy commuter congestion during peak hours along major corridors like Jefferson Pike.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Northeast Smyrna, with unhoused populations and social services centered further south in Murfreesboro or northwest in Nashville.
What Northeast Smyrna is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very safe and active with neighborhood joggers, dog walkers, and routine school or commuter traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet throughout residential streets, with park visitors enjoying the open green spaces.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Peaceful atmosphere with families outside; streets and subdivisions remain calm and secure.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and low-activity, with minimal vehicle traffic and negligible risk of violent crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is virtually nonexistent in this area; WeGo Public Transit operates regional commuter route 96X into Nashville from a Smyrna park-and-ride lot, but there are no local fixed-route neighborhood buses.
Parking is abundant, stress-free, and universally free of charge in large surface commercial lots, park trailheads, and residential driveways.
Things to do in Northeast Smyrna
- Enjoy boating, fishing, and picnicking at the Jefferson Springs Recreation Area on J. Percy Priest Lake.
- Play a round of golf at the 18-hole Smyrna Golf Course municipal facility.
- Walk or jog along the paved multi-use trails of the Smyrna Town Green and Greenway network.
Local favorites
- Smyrna Golf Course · Golf Course · 4.5★ (430)A popular, well-maintained municipal golf course offering an 18-hole layout, driving range, and 9-hole executive course.
- Janarty's Homemade Ice Cream · Ice Cream Shop · 4.8★ (725)A beloved local creamery serving creative, small-batch homemade ice cream flavors and freshly pressed waffle cones.
- Karin's Kustard & Hamburgers · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (995)A nostalgic roadside diner famous for smash-style burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and frozen custard treats.
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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