Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Nashville, TN
4 neighborhoods ranked by safety, quiet living, air quality, affordability, and walkability — the factors that matter most for a comfortable retirement.
Best Neighborhoods for Retirees in Nashville — Key Takeaways
The best neighborhood for retirees in Nashville is East Nashville with a Retiree Score of 58/100. Nashville has 4 neighborhoods evaluated for retirement livability. The safest neighborhood is 12 South with a violent crime rate of 6.7 per 1,000 residents. Best air quality goes to 12 South with an AQI of 51.
Nashville has a population of 689,447, a median household income of $59,828, and a median home value of $365,000, which is 29% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, DOT Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Neighborhoods for Retirees
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Nashville | 58 | ||
| 12 South | 54 | ||
| The Gulch | 54 | ||
4 | Germantown Nashville | 51 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 neighborhoods in Nashville for each retiree-relevant metric.
Lowest violent crime rate
- 6.7 per 1K
- 6.7 per 1K
- 6.7 per 1K
- 6.7 per 1K
Lowest Air Quality Index
- AQI 51
- AQI 51
- AQI 51
- AQI 51
Lowest median home value
- $425,000
- $475,000
- $550,000
- $650,000
Highest Walk Score
- 92/100
- 82/100
- 77/100
- 61/100
Lowest property crime rate
- 31.0 per 1K
- 31.0 per 1K
- 31.0 per 1K
- 31.0 per 1K
Highest median household income
- $120,726
- $100,676
- $76,652
- $59,606
Neighborhoods are ranked using the Retiree Score, a composite livability index specifically designed for retirees. It prioritizes the factors that matter most for a comfortable, safe, and healthy retirement:
- Safety (Violent Crime)
- 25% weight
- Quiet Living (Road Noise)
- 20% weight
- Air Quality (AQI)
- 20% weight
- Affordability (Home Value)
- 20% weight
- Walkability (Walk Score)
- 15% weight
Safety is weighted highest because personal security is the top concern for retirees. Quiet living and air quality reflect the importance of a healthy, peaceful environment. Affordability matters for those on fixed incomes, and walkability supports an active lifestyle without reliance on driving.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, Walk Score, and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.