Is Osage safe?
Nashville, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Osage as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Osage
“Go with care. Osage is a developing North Nashville neighborhood with rich community heritage and growing artistic revitalization, but crime rates remain above the metro average. Visitors should stick to daytime visits or well-frequented commercial strips and avoid wandering side streets late at night.”
Recent North Nashville safety initiatives have targeted sporadic gun violence and property crimes along the major transit corridors bordering the neighborhood.
About the area
Osage is a residential neighborhood in North Nashville adjacent to the Cumberland River and the emerging Buchanan Arts District. It features a blend of historic mid-century cottages, newly constructed modern infill homes, and proximity to major educational institutions like Fisk and Meharry.
- Transitional
- Historic
- Emerging Arts
- Residential
Walking and biking in Osage
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Nearby access to the Ted Rhodes Cumberland River Greenway offers off-street paved cycling trails, though designated bike lanes on neighborhood streets remain sparse.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quick 5-to-10-minute driving access to Germantown and downtown Nashville
- Close proximity to the Ted Rhodes Golf Course and Cumberland River Greenway
- Active neighborhood revitalization bringing new dining and cultural investments
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates remain above the national and metro averages
- Census data reflects historically elevated poverty rates and pockets of infrastructure neglect
- Limited street lighting and occasional sporadic violent crime incidents after dark
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present along primary thoroughfares and vacant parcels closer to Clarksville Pike and MetroCenter, though widespread encampments are infrequent in the purely residential core.
What Osage is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute, making it generally safe for morning walks along primary streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with local foot traffic and service vehicles, feeling mostly secure while practicing standard urban awareness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity concentrates near nearby dining and corridors; caution is advised along quiet residential side blocks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Safety drops noticeably after dark; visitors should avoid walking alone and utilize rideshares directly to their destinations.
Transit, parking and getting around
WeGo Public Transit serves the area via Bus Route 22 (Bordeaux) and Route 42 (Cumberland), connecting directly to the downtown WeGo Central transit hub. Nashville does not have a heavy rail or subway system serving this neighborhood.
Free on-street parking is widely available throughout residential blocks, with minimal metered parking or paid commercial lots.
Things to do in Osage
- Play a round of golf along the Cumberland River at the Ted Rhodes Golf Course
- Browse contemporary local art galleries and creative spaces along the nearby Buchanan Arts District
- Bike or run along the Cumberland River Greenway access paths
Local favorites
- Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (3200)Hip artisan pizzeria serving craft pies and local beers with a 90s hip-hop theme.
- Minerva Avenue · Lounge & Bar · 4.3★ (480)Trendy neighborhood bar and lounge featuring signature cocktails and lively patio vibes.
- Southern V · Vegan Restaurant · 4.7★ (1150)Acclaimed eatery offering 100% plant-based Southern comfort classics.
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.