Is Raleigh Southwest safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Raleigh Southwest as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Raleigh Southwest
“Go with care. While Raleigh Southwest consists primarily of quiet mid-century residential streets, commercial corridors experience elevated property crime and vehicle theft. Visitors should stay alert in parking lots, avoid walking along major thoroughfares after dark, and keep vehicle interiors completely clear of valuables.”
Memphis Police have maintained focused patrol operations along the Austin Peay Highway corridor to curb recurring retail theft and vehicle break-ins.
About the area
Raleigh Southwest is a working-class, primarily suburban-style community in northeast Memphis featuring mid-century ranch homes and commercial strips along Austin Peay Highway and James Road. It offers authentic neighborhood eateries and park access along the Wolf River basin, though it shows signs of commercial disinvestment.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Residential
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Raleigh Southwest
Walk score: 34/100 · Bike score: 38/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is minimal on major roads, though recreational cyclists can access nearby paved paths connected to the Wolf River Greenway network.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime compared to inner-city Memphis core districts
- Pockets of well-tended, stable single-family residential blocks
- Convenient access to the Wolf River green spaces and Kennedy Park
- Affordable local dining options including longstanding barbecue and Mexican restaurants
Cons
- Significantly elevated rates of motor vehicle theft and retail property crime
- Above-average poverty rate approaching 25% with notable commercial vacancy
- Sparse streetlighting on secondary roads and pedestrian unfriendliness
- Occasional incidents of gun violence and robbery near commercial strip malls
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present along main transit corridors such as Austin Peay Highway and James Road, where panhandling is common near shopping plazas and convenience stores.
What Raleigh Southwest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm as residents commute, making it safe for driving and running quick errands at local stores.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy along primary corridors with steady vehicle traffic, though retail parking lots require basic situational awareness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Commercial activity slows down and foot traffic thins out, requiring heightened caution around gas stations and shopping plazas.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet but higher risk for opportunistic crime, vehicle tampering, and localized disturbances; walking is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), primarily served by Bus Route 40 (Stage) and Route 42 (Crosstown); there is no rail or BRT service in this corridor.
Parking is abundant and free in private commercial surface lots and along residential streets, with virtually no paid meters or garages.
Things to do in Raleigh Southwest
- Explore the athletic fields, disc golf course, and river access at nearby J.K. Kennedy Park
- Visit the modern Raleigh Springs Civic Center library and walking path just north on Austin Peay Highway
- Sample classic Memphis slow-smoked pulled pork at longstanding neighborhood barbecue stands
Local favorites
- Tops Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (580)Historic Memphis chain serving hickory-smoked pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and baked beans.
- Exlines' Best Pizza in Town · Pizza Restaurant · 4.1★ (460)Long-running local parlor known for classic thick-crust pizzas, sandwiches, and family-friendly dining.
- Taqueria La Unica · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (320)Casual, authentic spot preparing traditional street tacos, tortas, and hearty burritos.
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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