Is Cooper-Young Southwest safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Cooper-Young Southwest as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Cooper-Young Southwest
“Go with care. Cooper-Young Southwest is a charming, arts-oriented residential area adjacent to one of Memphis's best dining and nightlife strips, but property crime and opportunistic street crime require vigilance. Keep valuables out of vehicles and stick to well-lit main corridors after dark.”
Midtown Memphis has seen ongoing community watch initiatives in response to recurring vehicle break-ins and catalytic converter thefts.
About the area
Located in Midtown Memphis, Cooper-Young Southwest features historic early-20th-century craftsman bungalows, tree-lined residential streets, and proximity to vibrant independent dining and retail. While the neighborhood boasts an engaged and active community, it borders higher-crime transit corridors to the south that require increased situational awareness.
- Bohemian / Artsy
- Historic Bungalows
- Dining & Nightlife Hub
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Cooper-Young Southwest
Walk score: 74/100 · Bike score: 71/100
The neighborhood connects easily to the Hampline and the Shelby Farms Greenline connector routes, with Explore Bike Share stations located nearby in the Cooper-Young commercial center.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High rates of civic engagement and active neighborhood watch presence
- Above-average educational attainment and growing residential property investment
- Immediate access to beloved local eateries, coffee shops, and independent record stores
Cons
- Elevated rates of vehicle break-ins and property theft typical of urban Midtown Memphis
- Pockets of lower lighting and increased property crime risk along the southern rail corridor
- Higher risk of opportunistic street robberies late at night near unmonitored parking areas
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, mostly consisting of occasional individuals passing through along major corridors like Southern Avenue and Cooper Street, with minimal permanent encampments.
What Cooper-Young Southwest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant, with dog walkers, joggers, and neighbors heading to local cafes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and generally safe with moderate foot traffic around commercial corners and residential blocks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively and bustling near restaurants and pubs, though visitors should remain alert to vehicle security.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet on residential side streets but higher risk; avoid unlit alleys and walking alone along Southern Avenue.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) serves the area primarily via Route 2 (Madison) and Route 36 (Lamar) on surrounding arterials, though headways can be long.
Free on-street parking is widely available throughout residential streets, though spaces fill up quickly near Young Avenue on weekends; always lock doors and leave nothing visible.
Things to do in Cooper-Young Southwest
- Browse vintage vinyl and new indie releases at Goner Records
- Dine on local comfort fare and craft brews along the historic Cooper-Young commercial district
- Take an architectural walking tour of early-20th-century craftsman bungalows and vibrant neighborhood murals
Local favorites
- Goner Records · Record Store · 4.8★ (320)Iconic independent record shop and label specializing in garage rock, punk, and rare vinyl.
- Young Avenue Deli · American Restaurant / Bar · 4.4★ (1850)Stalwart hangout celebrated for massive sandwiches, extensive craft beer taps, and pool tables.
- Java Cabana · Coffee Shop · 4.5★ (290)Quirky, long-standing coffeehouse serving espresso drinks, vegan treats, and hosting open mic nights.
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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