Located in the southeastern United States, Tennessee is home to 6.6 million people. The state has two nearly equally large cities, Memphis and the state capital of Nashville. Tennessee is characterized by both its rich history and by its distinct landscape that is dominated by the Appalachian Mountains to the east. If you plan to make The Volunteer State your home, we’re serving up the 25 safest cities in Tennessee.
Our list was compiled based on FBI violent crime stats and proprietary backgroundchecks.org research data. Rates are normalized per 100,000 residents with the state average being 608 for violent crime and 3,061 for property crime. This is calculated by taking (# of crimes/population) * 100,000.
Related: Check out our Tennessee Public Records guide.
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#1 Brentwood
Located in Williamson County, the city of Brentwood is home to 37,000 residents. Considered a suburb of Nashville, the community is known for its rolling hills, lush parks, and is regarded as one of the wealthiest cities in the country. Brentwood is also the safest place to live in Tennessee, with a violent crime rate of 44.2, and the chance of being affected by property crime here just .08%.
#2 Germantown
A city in Shelby County, Germantown is home to 38,800 residents. Considered a suburb of Memphis, the community is known for its annual horse shows and competitions as well as for having a nationally accredited parks and recreation department. Another safe place to call home, the violent crime rate in Germantown is 78.5, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 1.5%.
#3 Franklin
Located in Williamson County, the city of Franklin is home to 68,800 residents. Just 21 miles south of Nashville, this fast-growing community is also the county seat and is the site of several health care related businesses. The violent crime rate here is 143.4, and residents of Franklin have a 1.5% chance of being affected by property crime.
#4 Collierville
A town in Shelby County, Collierville has a current population of 43,900 residents. Considered a suburb of Memphis, the town is home to an 800,000 square-foot shopping center, a large hospital, and a historic town square. The violent crime rate in Collierville is 172.3, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 1.9%.
#5 Spring Hill
Located in Maury and Williamson counties, the city of Spring Hill is home to 32,500 residents. Just 30 miles south of Nashville, the economy is booming here with such companies as General Motors, Ryder, and Goodwill in operation. The violent crime rate here is 196.8, and residents of Spring Hill have a 1.2% chance of being affected by property crime.
#6 Maryville
A city in Blount County, Maryville is home to 27,400 residents. Considered a suburb of Knoxville, the community enjoys commerce from popular nearby tourist destinations such as Pigeon Forge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Dollywood. The violent crime rate in Maryville is 211.7, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 3%.
#7 Mt Juliet
Located in Wilson County, Mt. Juliet is home to 28,100 residents. Just 17 miles east of downtown Nashville, the city sits between Percy Priest Lake and Old Hickory Lake, which are both man-made reservoirs. The violent crime rate here is 225.2, and residents of Mt. Juliet have a 1.8% chance of being affected by property crime.
#8 Bartlett
A city in Shelby County, Bartlett is home to 54,600 residents. The city encompasses 23.4 square miles, is served by the Shelby County School District, and has been included on Money magazine’s list of best places to live in the U.S. The violent crime rate in Bartlett is 237.8, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is just 1.4%.
#9 White House
Located in Robertson and Sumner counties, the city of White House is home to 10,700 residents. Just 22 miles north of downtown Nashville, the community was named for a two-story house built in 1829, a replica of which now sits in the center of town. The violent crime rate here is 238, and residents of White House have a 1.9% chance of being affected by property crime.
#10 Hendersonville
A city in Sumner County, Hendersonville is home to 51,300 residents. Located 18 miles northeast of Nashville, the community is the site of the national headquarters of Rhoades Car, has strong ties to country music, and was included on Family Circle’s list of ten best cities for families. The violent crime rate in Hendersonville is 240.6, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 1.7%.
#11 Elizabethton
Located in Carter County, the city of Elizabethton is home to 14,000 residents. Also the county seat, the community has a rich history and is the site of several rivers, making recreation opportunities in the area plentiful. The violent crime rate here is 252.8, and residents of Elizabethton have a 5.4% chance of being affected by property crime.
#12 Smyrna
A town in Rutherford County, Smyrna is home to 43,000 residents. The town sits along the shores of Percy Priest Lake and is the site of a Nissan Motors plant, which employs around 6,000 workers. The violent crime rate in Smyrna is 256.8, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 2.3%.
#13 Oak Ridge
Located in Anderson and Roane counties, the city of Oak Ridge is home 29,300 residents. Just 25 miles west of Knoxville, the community is also known as the Atomic City and the Secret City due to its participation in the Manhattan Project. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory still operates and plays a significant role in the area’s economy. The violent crime rate here is 273.7, and residents of Oak Ridge have a 3.4% chance of being affected by property crime.
#14 Martin
A city in Weakley County, Martin has a current population of 11,400 residents. The city encompasses 12.4 square miles and is the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin as well as the site of the annual Tennessee Soybean Festival. The violent crime rate in Martin is 294.2, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 2.9%.
#15 Dickson
Located in Dickson County, the city of Dickson is home to 14,900 residents. The city encompasses 20 square miles, was named after Congressman William Dickson, and sits on the Tennessee Valley Divide. The violent crime rate here is 399.2, and residents of Dickson have a 5.1% chance of being affected by property crime.
#16 Gallatin
A city in Sumner County, Gallatin has a current population of 32,300 residents. Also the county seat, the community sits on the Cumberland River and is home to the headquarters of several companies such as Gap, Inc., Beretta, and Servpro Industries. The violent crime rate in Gallatin is 427.7, and the chance of being involved in a property crime here is 1.7%.
#17 Soddy-Daisy
Located in Hamilton County, the city of Soddy-Daisy is home to 12,700 residents. Formed in 1969 when two cities merged, this community with a unique name has evolved into a bedroom community of nearby Chattanooga. The violent crime rate in Soddy-Daisy is 431.1, and residents have a 3.2% chance of being affected by property crime.
#18 La Vergne
A city in Rutherford County, La Vergne is home to 34,000 residents. Considered a suburb of Nashville, the community is the site of just one of the two U.S. printing plants for Lightning Source as well as the largest subdivision of homes in the state. The violent crime rate here is 466.4, and the chance of being involved in a property crime in La Vergne is 1.6%.
#19 Cookeville
Located in Putnam County, the city of Cookeville is home to 30,400 residents. Also the county seat, the community sits on the Highland Rim, is near three man-made lakes, has a strong economy, and is home to Tennessee Technological University. The violent crime rate in Cookeville is 471.8, and residents have a 4.9% chance of being affected by property crime.
#20 Johnson City
A city in Washington, Sullivan, and Carter counties, Johnson City is home to 63,100 residents. The city is the site of East Tennessee State University and has been included on Forbes’ list of best small place for business and careers in the country as well as Kiplinger’s list of least expensive cities for living in the USA. The violent crime rate here is 495.8, and the chance of being involved in a property crime in Johnson City is 4.4%.
#21 Portland
Located in Sumner and Robertson counties, the city of Portland is home to 11,900 residents. A part of the Highland Rim in the northern region of the state, the city is considered a suburb of Nashville and has attracted such companies as Daido America, Kyowa America, and Unipres. The violent crime rate in Portland is 508.4, and residents have a 2.6% chance of being affected by property crime.
#22 Sevierville
A city in Sevier County, Sevierville is home to 14,800 residents. Also the county seat, the community lies along the banks of the Little Pigeon River between the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Tennessee Valley. The violent crime rate here is 527.7, and the chance of being involved in a property crime in Sevierville is 5.5%.
#23 Bristol
Located in Sullivan County, the city of Bristol has a current population of 26,700 residents. The city sits on the state line, which runs down Main Street and is a sister city to Bristol, VA (also on our safe cities list). It is also home to the Bristol Motor Speedway, a NASCAR short track. The violent crime rate in Bristol is 529.2, and residents have a 4% chance of being involved in a property crime.
#24 Tullahoma
A city in Franklin and Coffee counties, Tullahoma is home to 18,800 residents. The city is known for its promotion of performing arts as well as for being the site of the University of Tennessee Space Institute. The violent crime rate in Tullahoma is 535, and the chance of being affected by property crime here is 3.4%.
#25 Goodlettsville
Located in Sumner and Davidson counties, the city of Goodlettsville has a current population of 15,900 residents. Considered an outlying suburb of Nashville, the city is home to the headquarters of Dollar General as well as a Tyson Foods plant, which is considered the largest fresh meat packing plant in the world. The violent crime rate here is 551.8, and residents of Goodlettsville have a 5.4% chance of being involved in a property crime.
