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10 Safest Cities in Tennessee in 2024 (With Pictures)

Oakland Tennessee welcome sign

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

Tennessee is generally considered to be average in terms of safety. On average, Tennessee has a violent crime rate of about six incidents per 1,000 people. However, this is not consistent across the state. There are areas with high crime and areas with low crime. Some of the safest areas have a rate of about one incident per 1,000 people.

Overall, the state has a falling crime rate, which means that much of the area is getting safer every year — though that isn’t necessarily true for every city in the state. Violent crime seems to be the most worrisome rate in Tennessee, though it is only slightly more than the national average.

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The 10 Safest Cities in Tennessee: A Quick Look

1. Church Hill

Population 6,671
Murder rate 0
Average Household income $43,542
Poverty rate 15.1%
Violent crimes in 2018 3

Church Hill is a small community that has access to both Kingsport and Johnson City, where most residents do their shopping. Church Hill itself only has a few local stores, such as a Food City and Food Lion. There are even a few restaurants, though many residents drive to Kingsport for a better selection.

It is a small rural town with affordable properties, which is surprising given that it also has the lowest crime rate in Tennessee.

This little community is getting safer by the year, with practically no violent crime reported recently. Property crime is also decreasing.


2. Signal Mountain

Population 8,605
Murder rate 0.5
Average Household income $104,933
Poverty rate 1.9%
Violent crimes in 2018 6

Signal Mountain is another small community, though it is located in a different place than Church Hill. The average income is almost double, though, so the cost of living is quite high. In fact, it costs about 25% more to live here than the national average, which is quite high for Tennessee. However, wages have been increasing alongside the price of living.

Violent and property crimes are quite low in Signal Mountain, most likely due to the low poverty level and low population. When everyone is spread out, crime tends to be less common. That said, property crime is a bit higher than for some other areas on this list, and a few violent crimes are reported each year.


3. Mount Carmel

Population 5,295
Murder rate 0.4
Average Household income $49,708
Poverty rate 12.9%
Violent crimes in 2018 8

Just down the road from Church Hill is Mount Carmel. Similarly to Church Hill, the crime rate is quite low. However, the property crime rate is exceedingly higher, which is why Mount Carmel is number three on this list. While there are few violent crimes reported, property crimes are quite common.

However, this community is getting safer as time goes on, which is something to keep in mind. Crime rates will likely decrease over the next few years.


4. Oakland

Oakland welcome sign
Oakland welcome sign (Image Credit: Thomas R Machnitz ki, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0)
Population 8,323
Murder rate 0.1
Average Household income $72,276
Poverty rate  2.9%
Violent crimes in 2018 3

Oakland is located near Memphis, which is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Therefore, some people might think that Oakland would be dangerous too. However, this isn’t the case. This community is actually one of the safest in Tennessee. You also have access to the offerings of the bigger city, though you are more likely to be involved in a crime if you go there regularly.

This community is small, with less than 10,000 people. The average household income is similar to the average household income of the state as a whole, and the price of living is low.


5. Whiteville

Population 4,466
Murder rate 0.9
Average Household income $30,469
Poverty rate 23.06%
Violent crimes in 2018 14

Not too far away from Oakland is Whiteville, which is even smaller. It is located close to Memphis, though it is slightly farther away than Whiteville. The cost of living is decently low, as is the average household income. Rent and the median home value are much lower than the national average.

Violent crime in the area is low. Murder is basically non-existent. Instead, the most common violent crime is assault. Property crimes are quite high, though. That said, the rate is lower than the national average, though not by much.


6. Camden

Downtown Camden
Downtown Camden (Image Credit: Thomas R Machnitzki, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0)
Population 3,573
Murder rate 0.6
Average Household income $29,475
Poverty rate 23.7%
Violent crimes in 2018 5

Camden is an extremely small community with a low average household income. It is mostly suburban, with most residents owning their own homes. Rent is nearly half the national average, as are housing prices.

This community is safe in terms of both property and violent crime. Property crimes use to be higher, but they have decreased substantially over the last few years. Violent crimes are also decreasing, though those have always been quite low.


7. Pleasant View

Population 4,686
Murder rate 0
Average Household income $82,288
Poverty rate 4.96%
Violent crimes in 2018 3

Violent crime in Pleasant View is virtually non-existent. It has hovered around zero for the past few years, with hardly any crimes reported. Property crimes are quite high, though, so the city is low on this list. It is still a safe place, though theft is common. Crime rates are generally decreasing, however.

Residents generally have a good view of the educational systems and praise the local park system. This community is located close to Nashville, so residents can also enjoy the amenities of the larger city.


8. Brentwood

Brentwood Tennessee Town Hall
Brentwood Tennessee Town Hall (Image Credit: Concord715, Wikimedia Commons CC0 1.0)
Population 43,217
Murder rate 0.9
Average Household income $160,597
Poverty rate 2.5%
Violent crimes in 2018 4

Brentwood is a high-end community in Nashville. The average household income is far higher than average and the cost of living is high. The community is moderately large.

Violent crime rates are low. However, since this community is located in Nashville, there are a few violent crimes. Property crimes are decently high, probably due to the proximity to the larger city. However, you do get to enjoy the amenities of the city.


9. Loudon

Mason place loudon tennessee
Mason place loudon tennessee (Image Credit: Brian-Stansberry-Wikimedia-Commons CC BY 3.0)
Population 5,869
Murder rate 0.9
Average Household income $40,441
Poverty rate 10.6%
Violent crimes in 2018 4

Loudon has a decently low crime rate that has remained steady over the past few years. It is close enough to Knoxville that you can regularly travel there if you wish, but it is far enough away that the crime doesn’t spill over and crowds aren’t common.

Most people own their own homes, and the average home price is quite low. Generally, people consider it to be a safe area that has access to the amenities of Knoxville, which isn’t a dangerous city compared to most others either.


10. Atoka

Atoka TN Welcome sign
Atoka TN Welcome sign (Image Credit: Thomas R Machnitzki, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0)
Population 9,510
Murder rate 1.3
Average Household income $91,228
Poverty rate 3.9%
Violent crimes in 2018 9

Despite the higher household income, this community has been rated as one of the cheapest to live in.

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How to Stay Safe in Tennessee

Generally, much of Tennessee is rural, so crime rates tend to be quite low. The more people you put into an area, the more crime tends to happen. Gangs can also cause a significant increase in the crime rate, and Tennessee doesn’t seem to have much of a problem with gangs in most areas.

Your best bet to living safely in Tennessee is to avoid the larger cities. You can likely find a safe town or suburb nearby that has a much lower crime rate than the major city.

Memphis is by far the most dangerous place in Tennessee. If safety is your primary concern, you’ll be good if you simply stay out of this city. There are surrounding areas that are much safer if you must live in that area.

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Conclusion: Safest Cities In Tennessee

Tennessee technically has a higher crime rate than the average, but much of its crime is concentrated in a small area. For instance, it is home to Memphis, which is one of the more dangerous cities in the country. These small, concentrated crime zones drive up the state’s average.

However, most of the state is fairly safe. There are even a few areas with practically zero reported violent crimes, making them extremely safe options for those looking to move. Overall, property crimes tend to be significantly higher in Tennessee than violent crimes.


Featured Image Credit: Thomas R Machnitzki, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0

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