Is Uptown safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Uptown as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Uptown
“Go with care. Uptown offers convenient proximity to Downtown and the St. Jude campus alongside recent revitalization, but violent and property crime rates remain elevated compared to national benchmarks. Visitors should practice standard urban caution, avoid unlit side streets after dark, and keep vehicles locked without valuables inside.”
Targeted municipal safety initiatives and community development investments continue across the Uptown and North Memphis corridors to address persistent property crime and gun violence.
About the area
Uptown is a historic, evolving neighborhood situated immediately north of Downtown Memphis. The area features a mix of historic architecture, modern mixed-income developments, and community-driven revitalization alongside legacy industrial borders.
- Transitioning Urban
- Historic Core
- Medical Adjacent
- Mixed-Income
Walking and biking in Uptown
Walk score: 64/100 · Bike score: 68/100
Explore Bike Share kiosks are stationed near the downtown boundary, connecting to local bike lanes and the Wolf River Greenway connector trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Direct adjacency to Downtown Memphis and the expanding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital campus
- Substantial mixed-income housing revitalization and ongoing infrastructure investments
- Convenient access to riverfront recreational amenities and the Wolf River Greenway
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates significantly exceed state and national averages
- Census tracts show high poverty rates alongside elevated residential vacancy on secondary streets
- Higher risk of opportunistic vehicular burglary and property theft
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, with individuals occasionally congregating near major transit stops, vacant lots, and along thoroughfares heading south into Downtown.
What Uptown is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm as hospital workers and residents begin their commute, feeling safe for walks along main corridors.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with local traffic and business visitors; generally safe when staying aware of your surroundings.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Foot traffic diminishes after dusk, requiring increased situational awareness and sticking to illuminated routes.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking is not advised due to limited activity, poor lighting on side streets, and higher crime vulnerability.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) operates several bus lines through the neighborhood, including Route 11 and Route 40, while the MATA Main Street Trolley terminus lies within walking distance to the west.
Unmetered street parking and dedicated surface lots are widely available near businesses and residences, though vehicles should always be secured and cleared of belongings.
Things to do in Uptown
- Tour the historic Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum located just north on N 2nd Street
- Explore the local dining and cafe scene along North Main and North 2nd corridors
- Walk or run along the paved trail connections linking to the nearby Wolf River Greenway
Local favorites
- Cozy Corner Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (1720)Famed historic smokehouse known across Memphis for smoked Cornish hen, ribs, and barbecue sandwiches.
- The Office @ Uptown · Cafe & Deli · 4.7★ (135)Welcoming community-oriented cafe and workspace serving sandwiches, coffee, and breakfast staples.
- Comeback Coffee · Coffee Shop · 4.8★ (390)Trendy, airy cafe offering specialty coffee drinks, sodas, and curated pastries on the neighborhood edge.
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.