The Volunteer State offers way more than just country music, smoky mountain hikes, or barbecue joints. With a lot of families Googling to find answers on Safest Cities in Tennessee, population is spiking at a breakneck speed.
And of course everyone wants a safe place to live in Tennessee that balances low crime, solid schools, and a cost of living that doesn’t break the bank.
The numbers show why this matters. Recent data from Tennessee’s violent crime rate is around 628 incidents per 100,000 residents, noticeably higher than the national average. That might sound worrying at first glance, but it hides the fact that many smaller cities and suburbs are far safer than the state’s overall picture suggests.
We’ll look at whether Tennessee is truly a safe place to live, explain how we chose the top cities, highlight some of the standouts, point you toward affordable, safe places to live, and even talk about how you can secure your home no matter where you move (yes, that includes smart security tools).
Is Tennessee a Safe Place to Live?
|
Crime Type |
Tennessee |
National |
|
Murder/Non-negligent homicide |
9.9 |
5.7 |
|
Aggravated assault |
509.3 |
263.7 |
|
Robbery |
71.5 |
65.4 |
|
Rape |
37.6 |
38.0 |
Violent crime rates
(per 100,000 residents)
Crime in Tennessee tends to be higher than the U.S. average in many categories, especially in large cities. For example:
- As of 2023, Tennessee experienced a violent crime rate of about 628 per 100,000 residents. Compare that to the national average, it appears to be 73% higher.
- Property crime is also elevated: over 2,360 property crime incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023.
That said, the picture is far from uniform. Some suburbs, small towns, and parts of rural Tennessee show very low violent crime and property crime rates. Many people wonder whether Tennessee’s generally high state stats apply everywhere. They don’t.
Some parts of Tennessee feel a lot safer than others. You’ll find lower crime rates in Williamson County, in sections of East Tennessee, and in quieter suburbs near Nashville or Knoxville. So, is Tennessee a safe place to live? In many areas, yes, especially if you choose the right city or neighborhood. Safety here really comes down to location.
How We Chose the Safest Cities
To figure out which cities in Tennessee feel the safest in 2025, we didn’t just pull numbers at random. We went back to recent crime data from 2023 and 2024, both violent and property crime rates. Sometimes it’s per 1,000 residents, other times per 100,000, depending on the source, but the point is we used what was actually available.
And the sources? The usual suspects like SafeWise, NeighborhoodScout, CrimeGrade, and, when we could, straight from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. I think it’s worth saying, people tend to trust rankings more when they see those names attached, even if the numbers shift a little depending on methodology.
One more thing, affordability matters. A city might rank as the safest in Tennessee, but if the home prices are out of reach, or taxes and commuting costs eat away your budget, how livable is it really? Safety isn’t just about avoiding crime, it’s also about whether you can reasonably plant yourself there without constant financial stress.
Top 8 Safest Cities in Tennessee
Here are eight of the safest cities in Tennessee for 2025, selected based on the criteria outlined above. Some are more family-friendly, some more affordable, but all stand out for safety.
|
City |
Population* |
Key Crime Stats / Safety Data |
What Makes It Safe / Family Features |
|
Nolensville |
~18,450 |
Ranked #1 safest city in Tennessee in SafeWise 2025. Very low violent crime rate (often among the lowest per 100,000) and low property crime. |
Strong sense of community, excellent schools, suburban feel, well-funded local services. Good commuting access to Nashville without many of the risks. |
|
Signal Mountain |
Smaller town (East Tennessee) |
Among the safest in Tennessee, per SafeWise. Very low incidents of violent crime |
Scenic, quiet, mountain views, small-town feel, good local school options. |
|
Kingston |
~6,194 |
Violent crime ~0.8 per 1,000, sharp drop in property crime in recent years. |
Small, tight-knit community, lower stress, often cheaper housing, calm pace. |
|
Mount Juliet |
Larger population, growing suburb of Nashville |
Ranked the 4th safest city in Tennessee by SafeWise for 2025. Has one of the lowest rates among mid-sized cities. |
Good schools, newer neighborhoods, growing amenities, still relatively safe; lots of families moving in. |
|
Oakland |
~8,900 |
One of the safer towns in Tennessee. Part of the top safest cities list. |
Low density, small-town charm, less traffic, and often lower home costs. |
|
Atoka |
Small town in Fayette County |
Among SafeWise’s top 10 safest. Low crime statistics across the board. |
Quiet, community involvement, likely more affordable housing than suburbs nearer big cities. |
|
Loudon |
Small town in East Tennessee |
On SafeWise’s list for 2025, property/violent crime are very low. |
Natural beauty, slower pace, strong local identity, lower cost of living. |
|
Spring Hill |
~50,000-55,000 |
Not quite as low as the very smallest towns, but good safety metrics: violent crime rate around 1.72 per 1,000 residents (useful context: U.S. typical is higher). |
Fast growth, good schools, more amenities, still relatively affordable compared to the inner city, good community feel. |
Population figures are approximate and may vary due to recent growth.
What is the Safest City in Tennessee?
If you ask, what is the safest city in Tennessee, many recent sources point to Nolensville, TN. It holds the #1 spot in SafeWise’s 2025 ranking of safest cities in Tennessee.
Looking closely:
- Its rates of violent crime are among the lowest in the state.
- Property crime is low compared to many cities of a similar size.
- School safety, community response, and infrastructure support its status: good lighting, local police presence, and neighborhood programs.
If you want to pick just one safest city in Tennessee, Nolensville is the one many experts would choose this year.
Affordable Safe Places to Live in Tennessee
Some of the safest cities cost quite a bit. But there are towns where you get a good balance of safety and affordability. If you’re moving and want low crime but also want your money to stretch, these are strong picks:
Crime Prevention Starts at Home
Even in one of the safest cities, you want your home to feel secure. Here are some tools people are using, especially in safe suburbs or rural areas, to maintain that extra peace of mind:
- eufy ExpertSecure System: This is a 24/7 local video alarm system with expert monitoring. You get cameras, motion detection, and 24/7 expert surveillance. I think it’s great because you get good quality with a complete peace of mind.
- eufy NVR System S4 Max : If you prefer storing your own video data (no cloud), an NVR is ideal. It gives you long-term storage, more control. For someone moving often, or wanting to self-monitor, combining an NVR with a system like eufy gives you visible deterrence plus solid backup.
Together, these products can help reduce burglary risk, help neighbors coordinate, and allow you to sleep more easily, even knowing your city is already one of the safest places to live in Tennessee.
Finding Peace of Mind in Tennessee’s Safest Cities
Tennessee in 2025 has many safest cities where families and neighbors feel secure. If you move to places like Nolensville, Signal Mountain, Mount Juliet, or even some of the more affordable safe towns, you can likely enjoy both calm and quality of life.
If you are planning a move, I suggest:
- Visit neighborhoods at different times of day
- Check recent crime reports from local police / TBI
- Tour schools and parks
- Talk to residents about how safe they feel(sometimes perception matters almost as much as numbers)
Planning a move to Tennessee? Start with these peaceful places where families and neighbors thrive.
FAQ
Is Tennessee considered a safe place to live?
As a whole, Tennessee has safety challenges: its state-level violent and property crime rates are above U.S. averages. But many places to live in Tennessee are muchsafer than the average state result.
Some towns and suburbs offer low crime, strong community safety programs, so yes, many parts of Tennessee are safe. You just need to pick your city or neighborhood with care.
What is the safest city in Tennessee?
Based on the most recent 2025 data, Nolensville, Tennessee, emerges as the top contender for the safest city in Tennessee.
Very low violent crime, good property crime stats, strong public service support, and community involvement. If safety is your top priority, Nolensville is the one many experts would recommend.
