Most Nashville neighborhood guides tell you where to eat brunch.
Then we ranked them. If you're buying with kids, relocating for a job, or just trying to figure out where your money goes furthest on both metrics simultaneously, this is the reference you've been looking for.
Elite Tier — School Rating 9–10
Eleven Nashville neighborhoods hit a school rating of 9 or 10 out of 10. These are the zones where public school performance is genuinely exceptional — and the home prices reflect it. Even the most "affordable" neighborhoods in this tier (Franklin, Brentwood) sit above $500k median. But if schools are your top priority and budget isn't the limiting factor, this is your shortlist.
Strong Tier — School Rating 8
This tier is where many buyers end up. An 8/10 school rating still means schools that significantly outperform the national average. And critically, the prices here are far more accessible — ranging from $330k in Lenox Village up to $615k in Belmont-Hillsboro.
Solid Tier — School Rating 7
A 7/10 school rating is still above average nationally. Nashville has over 50 neighborhoods in this tier, spanning everything from hip walkable urban neighborhoods ($875k in 12 South) to affordable suburban pockets ($170k in Kingston Springs).
Neighborhoods worth highlighting in this tier:
Best Value: Strong Schools Under $400,000
Full Nashville Neighborhood Rankings
Use it to compare any neighborhood you're considering against the full metro.
| Neighborhood | Schools | Median Price |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Meade | 10/10 | $1,495,000 |
| Brentwood | 9/10 | $525,000 |
| Franklin | 9/10 | $510,000 |
| Forest Hills | 9/10 | $895,000 |
| Hillwood | 9/10 | $855,000 |
| Oak Hill | 9/10 | $835,000 |
| Cherokee Park | 9/10 | $780,000 |
| Green Hills | 9/10 | $735,000 |
| Breeze Hill | 9/10 | $665,000 |
| Historic Waverly | 9/10 | $545,000 |
| West End / Vanderbilt | 9/10 | $595,000 |
| Spring Hill | 8/10 | $460,000 |
| Hendersonville | 8/10 | $385,000 |
| Belmont-Hillsboro | 8/10 | $615,000 |
| Sylvan Park | 8/10 | $605,000 |
| Richland Park | 8/10 | $555,000 |
| Crieve Hall | 8/10 | $495,000 |
| Nolensville | 8/10 | $470,000 |
| Goodlettsville | 8/10 | $440,000 |
| Mount Juliet | 8/10 | $405,000 |
| Bellevue | 8/10 | $335,000 |
| Lenox Village | 8/10 | $330,000 |
| Sylvan Heights | 8/10 | $480,000 |
| 12 South | 7/10 | $875,000 |
| Historic Edgefield | 7/10 | $635,000 |
| Five Points | 7/10 | $575,000 |
| Hillsboro Village | 7/10 | $535,000 |
| Midtown / Music Row | 7/10 | $505,000 |
| Tusculum | 7/10 | $450,000 |
| Eastwood | 7/10 | $420,000 |
| East Nashville | 7/10 | $415,000 |
| Cleveland Park | 7/10 | $410,000 |
| Fairview | 7/10 | $310,000 |
| Gallatin | 8/10 | $305,000 |
| White House | 7/10 | $300,000 |
| Old Hickory | 7/10 | $285,000 |
| Nashville West | 7/10 | $280,000 |
| Pie Town | 7/10 | $650,000 |
| Rutledge Hill | 7/10 | $585,000 |
| Lockeland Springs | 7/10 | $565,000 |
| Germantown | 7/10 | $500,000 |
| The Gulch | 7/10 | $490,000 |
| North Gulch | 7/10 | $475,000 |
| Shelby Hills | 7/10 | $465,000 |
| Wedgewood-Houston | 7/10 | $455,000 |
| Melrose | 7/10 | $445,000 |
| Berry Hill | 7/10 | $435,000 |
| Riverside Village | 7/10 | $430,000 |
| The Nations | 7/10 | $400,000 |
| Porter Heights | 7/10 | $395,000 |
| Joelton | 7/10 | $390,000 |
| Charlotte Park | 7/10 | $360,000 |
| Ransom Place | 7/10 | $355,000 |
| Hermitage | 7/10 | $350,000 |
| Boscobel | 7/10 | $345,000 |
| Pennington Bend | 7/10 | $325,000 |
| Two Rivers | 7/10 | $320,000 |
| Nations West | 7/10 | $315,000 |
| Donelson | 7/10 | $295,000 |
| Donelson Hills | 7/10 | $275,000 |
| Clifton | 7/10 | $230,000 |
| Chestnut Hill | 7/10 | $225,000 |
| Grassmere | 7/10 | $215,000 |
| Glenrose Heights | 7/10 | $205,000 |
| Salemtown | 7/10 | $515,000 |
| Marathon Village | 7/10 | $485,000 |
| SoBro | 7/10 | $425,000 |
| McFerrin Park | 7/10 | $365,000 |
| Fisk-Meharry | 7/10 | $340,000 |
| Hope Gardens | 7/10 | $290,000 |
| East Lake | 7/10 | $235,000 |
| McGavock | 7/10 | $210,000 |
| Inglewood East | 7/10 | $200,000 |
| Elm Hill | 7/10 | $185,000 |
| Kingston Springs | 5/10 | $170,000 |
| Priest Lake | 7/10 | $175,000 |
| Inglewood | 6/10 | $390,000 |
| Caldwell-Abbitt | 6/10 | $220,000 |
| Buena Vista Heights | 6/10 | $260,000 |
| Hadley Park | 6/10 | $255,000 |
| Maxwell Heights | 6/10 | $180,000 |
| Madison | 5/10 | $250,000 |
| Antioch | 5/10 | $245,000 |
| Smyrna | 7/10 | $195,000 |
| Whites Creek | 5/10 | $190,000 |
| Whites Creek Valley | 5/10 | $165,000 |
| Bordeaux | 5/10 | $270,000 |
Check crime data
We don’t grade neighborhoods on crime. Look up the streets you’re considering in Nashville with the agency that patrols them:
- Nashville (MNPD) (open data portal: search "crime")
- FBI Crime Data Explorer (agency-level reports)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nashville neighborhood has the best schools?
Among neighborhoods accessible to most buyers, Brentwood and Franklin both earn 9/10 school ratings with median prices around $510,000–$525,000.
What Nashville neighborhoods have good schools under $400,000?
Bellevue (8/10, $335k) and Lenox Village (8/10, $330k) both hit the target under $340k. For 7/10 school ratings: Old Hickory ($285k), Nashville West ($280k), White House ($300k), and Donelson ($295k) all come in under $310k.
Is a 7/10 school rating good in Nashville?
Yes — a 7/10 school rating in Nashville is above the metro average and well above the national average for public schools. Over 50 Nashville neighborhoods hit a 7/10 rating, which means you have significant options at different price points. The difference between a 7 and a 9 is real, but a 7 is not a bad school by any reasonable measure.
Moving to Nashville for a reason?
The numbers by situation: retiring to Clarksville–Nashville, TN. Each one shows the neighborhoods here with 5+ sales, Oct 2025–Sep 2026, against your BAH or your home sale.
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