Is Oak Grove Heights safe?
Knoxville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Oak Grove Heights as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Oak Grove Heights
“Go. Oak Grove Heights is a quiet, predominantly working-class residential neighborhood in North Knoxville that poses little violent crime risk to ordinary visitors. While commercial corridors nearby experience occasional property crime, the residential streets are generally peaceful. Basic situational awareness is sufficient when visiting or staying in the area.”
About the area
Oak Grove Heights is an established mid-20th-century residential neighborhood situated northeast of downtown Knoxville near Whittle Springs. It features modest ranch-style single-family homes, leafy residential streets, and convenient road access to the Interstate 640 corridor.
- Quiet Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Suburban
Walking and biking in Oak Grove Heights
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes or bike-share stations directly in the neighborhood, though the First Creek Greenway can be accessed a short ride away to the west.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Knoxville citywide averages
- Quiet, low-traffic residential streets with a suburban community feel
- Close proximity to Interstate 640 and the North Broadway commercial spine
Cons
- Occasional property crimes such as vehicle break-ins along outer corridors
- Lack of pedestrian infrastructure including continuous sidewalks and crosswalks
- Sub-median household incomes and pockets of aging housing stock
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in residential Oak Grove Heights, though occasional panhandling or unhoused individuals may be seen along major commercial intersections on Broadway and Washington Pike.
What Oak Grove Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute, making it safe for morning strolls or dog walking.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet residential atmosphere with standard neighborhood deliveries and local traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settles down quickly at dusk with low activity and safe, dimly lit streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet, though poor street lighting and lack of sidewalks warrant vigilance if out on foot.
Transit, parking and getting around
Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) operates bus routes along major peripheral corridors like Broadway and Whittle Springs Road (such as Route 22 Broadway), but service directly within interior streets is limited.
Ample free street parking is available along residential streets with no parking meters or garages needed.
Things to do in Oak Grove Heights
- Play a round of golf at the nearby historic Whittle Springs Golf Course
- Walk or picnic along the greenspaces at Ed Cothren Pool and Park area
- Explore local antique and thrift shops along the nearby Broadway corridor
Local favorites
- Whittle Springs Golf Course · Public Golf Course · 4.2★ (320)Knoxville's first public golf course offering 18 holes and a relaxed municipal clubhouse vibe.
- Nick & J's Cafe · Diner / American Restaurant · 4.7★ (1150)Beloved local diner just west serving classic Southern breakfasts, burgers, and comfort food.
- Full Monty BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (180)Neighborhood favorite serving smoked brisket, pulled pork, and hearty 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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