Tennessee is often called the Volunteer State and it boasts a musically rich history, mesmerizing natural landscapes, including the Smoky Mountains, and major cities such as Nashville and Memphis. But how secure are the cities and towns of Tennessee? As I have mentioned earlier, no city on the face of the earth does not record some form of crime; however, some cities in Tennessee offer fairly safe communities to their inhabitants. Here is a brief outline of some of the safest cities in Tennessee based on the records of violent crimes and property crimes.
1. Franklin
About twenty miles from Nashville, Franklin is the most safe big city in Tennessee. Franklin has rather low rates of property crime—including burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft; and likewise low rates of violent crime—including aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery. Franklin presented the citizens with a security level of 1/118 in 2019 with 1,138 violent crimes and 1,559 property offenses. Franklin boasts low crime rates and is considered the safest city in Tennessee; these could be outcomes of low unemployment, a high degree of education, and a median income of about $86,000.
2. Bartlett
Situated in Shelby County and classified as a part of the Memphis Metropolitan area, Bartlett is a suburban city that stands in the second position in terms of the lowest crime rates recorded in the state of Tennessee. Violent crimes were registered 198 times in Bartlett in 2019 as well as 1,986 property crimes which can be still considered very low numbers for such a large city with a population of over 58 thousand people. There are comparatively broad roads, large territories, and numerous residents in single houses; thus, Bartlett offers a quite safe environment with a minimum of criminal activity characteristic of large cities. There is also a very impressive trend in public schools that perform above the state average.
3. Brentwood
In another city in the Nashville metro area slightly farther from Franklin, as in Brentwood, crime rates are low in comparison to other cities in Tennessee and across the United States. However, in 2019, there were only 142 violent crimes and 1,190 property crimes committed in Brentwood. In Brentwood, the average of criminal incidences per thousand people is fifty, so residents can enjoy the security of their lives and possessions. Education – quality schools, jobs, Nashville, and a family-oriented atmosphere make Brentwood an ideal haven.
4. Germantown
Located in Shelby County, north of Memphis is Germantown, which is another wealthy suburb that has drastically low crime levels. There were only 43 violent crimes in the entire 2019 reported in Germantown which has a population of over 40,000 people. Described by some as having more substantial roads and even more spacious lots, a great portion of the original houses in Germantown were designed focusing on safety and protection. Other measures that prevent or reduce cases of crime include; well-developed programs on neighborhood watch and the involvement of community members.
5. Oakland
The final town on the list is Oakland situated in Fayetteville County, south of Murfreesboro and the overall crime rate in this city is just 5% of the average Tennessee crime rate. The rate of violent crime in Oakland was just 28 in the year 2019, while the rate of property crime was 263. Current employment is nearly 2% in Oakland and poverty rates are relatively low and this may explain low levels of crimes. The city also focuses on other functions for the welfare of the public including the youth services thereby improving the quality of life. A small-town atmosphere within commuting distance of large cities also contributes to Oakland being one of Tennessee‘s safest communities.
For a nation that is still grappling with higher crime rates than most developed countries, residents of Tennessee can sleep easier knowing their cities which include Franklin, Bartlett, Brentwood, Germantown, and Oakland are relatively safer. It is for this reason that these cities have low unemployment, good schools, active community participation, and secure living, factors that assist in making these cities favorable for families to start building their future.
