
Located in “The Volunteer State,” Memphis is a city in Tennessee with approximately 633,000 residents. It’s is on the Mississippi River and is the second-largest city in the state, next to the capital city of Nashville.
Memphis is full of musical history. Influential soul, blues and rock-n-roll legends like B.B. King, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash recorded at the famous Sun Studio, commonly called the “birthplace of rock and roll.” You can stroll Beale Street and take in the rich history of Memphis.
In addition to its musical history, Memphis has world-renowned barbecue. In fact, the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest draws 100,000 visitors alone.
If you’re considering a move to Memphis and want to know a bit more about each of its neighborhoods, we’ve got you covered! We’ve done the research and highlighted the best neighborhoods in Memphis.
15 best neighborhoods in Memphis
Named after its Egyptian sister city on the Nile, Memphis means “established and beautiful” and it’s just that. Here are 15 of the best neighborhoods in Memphis. As you consider each one, keep in mind that all are within the city limits of Memphis, so you’ll get to experience all the culture that this great city has to offer.
Looking for a slice of Hollywood but without the traffic? Welcome to Belle Meade, home to part of the set of the Hollywood hit “The Firm.” But don’t worry, the lawyers in this town will let you move if you want to. Only Tom Cruise was unlucky on that front.
This quiet suburban area is a great place for people looking to settle down near the downtown area. With many hiking trails and delicious restaurants, anyone would be happy living in Belle Meade. The neighborhood is very walkable and has an average commute time of 30 minutes to downtown Memphis.
- Median 1-BR rent: $795
- Median 2-BR rent: $950
- Walk Score: 50/100
Founded in 1893 by an Irish immigrant named W.H. Bingham, the neighborhood of Binghampton has evolved immensely through the years. The city and residents of Binghamton have made a dedicated effort to grow the city, as it once was a more isolated part of Memphis.
Nowadays, the city has tree-lined streets, flower beds and art murals on prominent buildings and streets — like Broad Avenue —throughout to make it more appealing. The neighborhood has an annual art walk where street vendors and artists converge to play music, sell artisan crafts and food and mingle with the community. If you live in Binghampton, you definitely don’t want to miss this festive gathering. And if you’re a cyclist, the new two-way bike lane is underway! The neighborhood boasts of a walking score of 50 and an even better biking score of 63.
Source: Rent./Kimbrough Towers
- Median 1-BR rent: $930
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,210
- Walk Score: 69/100
Another historic neighborhood in Memphis is Central Gardens, which was once home to upper-class families who moved during the cotton boom. Due to the historic nature and relevance of the homes in Central Gardens, the area is a historic conservation zone.
While Central Gardens is densely populated, it’s a great option for singles as most of the households in the neighborhood are without children. The commute is nothing to complain about either with commute times averaging about 25 minutes. This area is home to several dining options, too. Residents of this area look forward to the Garden and Home Show every September.
- Median 1-BR rent: $695
- Median 2-BR rent: $725
- Walk Score: 33/100
Nestled on the north side of Memphis, Frayser is by the Wolf River, the Mississippi River and the Lossahatchie River. In the neighborhood alone, there are 10 parks you can frequent. Try Davy Crockett Park State Park, where you can camp, explore or visit a historic museum. This is a great neighborhood for those looking to bike, hike, dog walk and generally enjoy the outdoors.
Frayser gets its name from a prominent Memphis physician named Dr. J Frayser who summered at a home near the railroad, which is to the east of the neighborhood. While Dr. Frayser could afford a summer home here, don’t let that fool you on the cost of the rent.
Harbor Town is known to its residents as a little oasis located just outside of downtown Memphis. This premiere neighborhood and urbanist town sits atop a large 132-acre sand bar known as Mud Island.
While Harbor Town is known as a more upscale area, it’s also very affordable for young professionals looking to settle down near the city center. The town itself is very walkable and easy to navigate as it feels more like a mini-city. Take a walk down the main strip and you’ll pass by everything you need from a quaint grocery store to unique boutiques.
Harbor Town is home to the iconic Paulette’s where you can stop in for a one-of-a-kind Sunday brunch.
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,200
- Walk Score: 48/100
The High Point Terrace neighborhood is in the eastern part of Memphis. It’s close to Downtown so residents can enjoy the perks of Memphis but it also has a suburban feel. High Point Terrace is on the federal government’s list — the National Register of Historic Places. The architecture, buildings and overall neighborhood were deemed important to preserve due to its history in greater Memphis. One memorable claim-to-fame is the famous playwright, Tennessee Williams, who wrote his infamous play-turned-movie “Period of Adjustment” in the neighborhood of High Point Terrace itself.
This neighborhood tends to have younger residents, with 40 percent of residents under the age of 45. If you’re looking to plant roots and start a family, this is a great neighborhood to consider. Full of shops, grocery stores, coffee shops and bars, High Point Terrace is a small community where you’ll be surrounded by kind, hard-working Tennesseeans.
Source: Rent./Love Tunica
Another great area to live in on the north side of Memphis is Hyde Park. The main focal point of this neighborhood is Hollywood and Chelsea Streets. Here, you’ll find unique shops and yummy restaurants. Some of the top-rated restaurants are The Second Line and The Hollywood Fish Market. If you live in the south, you need to try their famous catfish and you can do just that at these two high-rated restaurants.
This community is highly engaged and you’ll find your neighbors strolling the local parks or meeting at the Shasta Central community center. If you’re looking for a neighborhood near Memphis itself but with a close-knit neighborhood feel, give Hyde Park a try.
- Median 1-BR rent: $660
- Median 2-BR rent: $795
- Walk Score: 58/100
Known as a college neighborhood, Normal Station is home to part of the University of Memphis. Due to its close proximity to the university, this neighborhood is mainly composed of young college students. As you would find in any college town, Normal Station has several student rental homes, fraternities and small rental homes at affordable rates for students.
The neighborhood itself isn’t very walkable, so a lot of the residents bike or drive to get around. If you’re a student looking for a great place to live out your college years check out Normal Station as your next home.
Pinch District is a historic area of Memphis located close to the Wolf River. Originally home to Irish, Russian and Jewish immigrants, Pinch District was the first commercial city in Memphis.
During the 1990s, the famous Pyramid Arena was built in hopes of bringing new life into the neighborhood. However, things took a turn when several of its large commercial sites moved locations. Pinch District is currently undergoing a billion-dollar expansion that will surely bring new, exciting business to the neighborhood.
While Pinch District is a quieter neighborhood in Memphis, it still has a lot of charm. There are some great coffee shops that recently opened such as Comeback Coffee or Alcenia’s. The commute from Pinch District to downtown Memphis is on average 15-30 minutes, so residents will likely need a car as the walk score is only 41.
Source: Rent./The Meadows
- Median 1-BR rent: $731
- Median 2-BR rent: $803
- Walk Score: 26/100
Raleigh is a neighborhood in Memphis located on the northeast side of the city. It’s near the Wolf River and Frayser, another one of the best neighborhoods in Memphis.
Raleigh is a neighborhood full of hard-working, kind people. The main economy is retail, however, Nike has a distribution center in this area, too. Stage Road is a popular area in the neighborhood where you can go for a walk, window shop and grab a bite to eat. Locals enjoy good food and shops in this town and a crowd favorite is Moma’s Bar-B-Q or Dindie’s Soul Food.
Steeped in folklore, Sherwood Forest is a neighborhood in east Memphis that has roots in the story of Robin Hood. While you probably won’t see Robin Hood’s merry men roaming around, you will see several streets named after the story like Robin Hood Lane, Maid Marion Lane and Little John Road.
Sherwood Forest neighborhood is known as a family-friendly suburb with good schools for children to attend. The neighborhood is about a mile away from the University of Memphis, so you’ll have a good blend of college-aged students and recent grads living here. The area has a nice blend of shops and bars plus a wonderful park to get in touch with nature. Sherwood Forest Park has trails, tennis courts, a golf course and even a botanical garden.
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,579
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,679
- Walk Score: 19/100
Southwind is a neighborhood in Memphis on the southeast side of the city. This is an affluent neighborhood with several residents having bachelor’s degrees. The schools are highly recommended and it’s a good place for families.
If you like golf, this is a great neighborhood because the Southwind Golf Course is on the PGA tour and is a World Championship Golf Course. Other outdoor activities include walks, hikes and strolling around local parks.
Source: Rent./The Helix at the District
- Median 1-BR rent: $880
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,021
- Walk Score: 72/100
Feel like stepping back in time? The Victorian Village neighborhood is the place for you. Once known as Millionaires Row, Victorian Village is a town rich with history due to its many homes built in the late 1800s. While the neighborhood is still home to these impressive homes, the suburban area is a great place for all types of people.
Victorian Village is home to many must-see museums such as the Woodruff-Fountaine House Museum. If you’re looking for a historic and walkable neighborhood in Memphis, then renting an apartment in Victorian Village is a great choice.
- Median 1-BR rent: $904
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,012
- Walk Score: 41
Voillintine-Evergreen is close to downtown Memphis. One of the prominent features of this neighborhood is the layout of ranch-style 78 buildings surrounding the old synagogue. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Places, in fact.
People living in Voillintine-Evergreen like their history and fight to preserve it and its aesthetic. The residents are usually retired or empty-nesters, so it’s a great place for people looking for a more quiet lifestyle. That being said, you’ll still find plenty to do whether that’s eating at local eateries, sipping freshly brewed coffee or walking throughout one of the neighborhood parks.
- Median 1-BR rent: $599
- Median 2-BR rent: $835
- Walk Score: 30/100
You can’t help falling in love with this neighborhood. Whitehaven is most famous for “Graceland.” More than a half-million people come to visit Elvis Presley’s home-turned-museum each year and pay their respects to the rock-n-roll legend.
While this landmark is cool for music lovers, residents of Whitehaven enjoy the suburban feel and parks like T.O. Suburban State Park. This neighborhood tends to attract empty-nesters, so it’s quieter compared to neighborhoods full of families.
Find the best Memphis neighborhood for you
Whether you choose a neighborhood in the heart of Memphis or elsewhere you can rest assured that you’ll find great people and apartments in any of the best neighborhoods in Memphis. Memphis is a city full of apartments for pet lovers, park lovers, nightlife lovers or even coffee lovers.
The rent information included in this article is based on a median calculation of multifamily rental property inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent. as of November 2021 and is for illustrative purposes only. This information does not constitute a pricing guarantee or financial advice related to the rental market.
Source: rent.com