Is Walnut Hill safe?
Kingsport, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Walnut Hill as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Walnut Hill
“Go. Walnut Hill is a peaceful, quintessential East Tennessee residential area with very low crime and minimal safety concerns. Visitors will find a tranquil, scenic setting characterized by single-family homes and rolling terrain, though you will definitely need a car to get around.”
About the area
Walnut Hill is an established, predominantly residential neighborhood located in the western portion of Kingsport. It features quiet subdivision streets, generous lot sizes, and a calm suburban atmosphere nestled among the Appalachian foothills. While mostly residential, it offers quick access to the commercial corridors along Stone Drive and downtown Kingsport.
- Suburban / Quiet
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Green / Scenic
Walking and biking in Walnut Hill
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 22/100
There are no bike-share programs in the immediate area; cycling is generally limited to neighborhood streets, though cyclists can access the Kingsport Greenbelt a few miles away.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent and property crime rates compared to national averages
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained single-family properties
- Quiet, family-friendly residential streets with minimal through-traffic
- Close proximity to the Holston River and Kingsport's park amenities
Cons
- Lacks commercial vibrancy or walkable dining options within the neighborhood itself
- Suburban road layout lacks continuous sidewalks or dedicated pedestrian crossings
- Almost entirely car-dependent for daily errands and entertainment
- Limited street lighting along some secondary residential roads
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in Walnut Hill, as services and encampments in the Kingsport area are concentrated closer to the downtown core and major commercial corridors.
What Walnut Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm, with occasional school buses and residents commuting to work.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and secure, with local residents walking dogs or working in their yards.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Settled and residential, remaining very safe with low vehicle traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet and dark with virtually no activity on the streets.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is very limited; Kingsport Area Transit Service (KATS) operates fixed bus routes in the city, but service in Walnut Hill is sparse, and there is no passenger rail system in the region.
Parking is exceptionally easy and universally free, with wide residential driveways and plentiful curbside parking on neighborhood streets.
Things to do in Walnut Hill
- Enjoy a morning run or peaceful stroll through the scenic, tree-lined residential streets
- Take a short drive to the nearby Kingsport Greenbelt for hiking, biking, and river views
- Visit neighboring Domtar Park for baseball fields, walking trails, and river access
Local favorites
- Pratt's BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (1250)Longstanding local staple offering classic pit-smoked pork, ribs, and down-home sides.
- The Bagel Exchange · Bakery & Bagel Shop · 4.6★ (840)Nearby breakfast favorite serving freshly baked New York-style bagels and specialty cream cheeses.
- Giuseppe's Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (1100)Cozy, family-owned eatery serving traditional pasta dishes, pizzas, and Italian 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.
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