2024's Top 5 Up And Coming Neighborhoods in Nashville

The city of Nashville is ever-changing. If you take a look around, you’re likely to see at least one construction crane in your line of sight. With the demand for real estate at an all-time high, many of the overlooked areas are transitioning into trendy, up and coming neighborhoods in Nashville. As more people are looking for locations near the city’s urban center, here are the latest 5 up and coming neighborhoods to keep on your radar.

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The Criteria

You can often buy real estate at a very favorable price in an area that is still undergoing its transition. These areas are often rundown and have higher crime, but are traditionally close to other popular neighborhoods. You can likely spot when a location is improving by the neighborhood data, including the real estate market, crime statistics, and population demographics.

How Is Gentrification Impacting Nashville

Gentrification is the process of rebuilding businesses and homes within dilapidated and neglected neighborhoods. The increase of new development draws in a wealthier and more affluent crowd, pushing out the earlier, and typically poorer community. Gentrification is also known as urban planning and usually is a key indicator of when a neighborhood is up and coming.

The impact and consequences of the gentrification process in Nashville are fairly mixed. On one side, it provides many benefits to the economy. It also brings about a variety of commercial development and new amenities to a neighborhood. However, gentrification tends to also have a negative effect on a neighborhood’s existing population. The influx of development drives up costs and forces out the long-term residents.

While some of the urban planning accelerated from the tornado devastation in 2020, Nashville’s growing demand is fueling additional neighborhood developments.

The Top 5 Up And Coming Neighborhoods In Nashville Are

West Nashville - Charlotte Park

The establishment of Charlotte Park dates back to the 1960s, where it served as an area to house the Ford Glass Plant employees. Now, the neighborhood is evolving into one of the leading emerging neighborhoods in Nashville. Located in West Nashville, Charlotte Park took to the rise following the growth and popularity of its neighboring areas, Sylvan Park and The Nations. Much of its transformation stems from the project plans on Robertson Avenue. The planned designs are a mix of residential, commercial, and office space, with much of its development to occur in the latter half of 2021.

Several other projects are in place throughout the area of Charlotte Park. Plans include a scenic transformation to its streetscape and the creation of a truck bridge for diverting local construction traffic. The neighborhood has an industrial vibe but is also appealing to families for its easy access to the Cumberland River and peaceful neighborhood parks. Charlotte Park offers a blend of housing options, including original brick homes and modern new construction. Demand for real estate in this up and coming neighborhood is on the rise, and home prices average around $400K.

The growing development of Charlotte Park comes at no surprise considering the transformation that Sylvan Park and The Nations underwent. The up and coming neighborhood is already home to notable restaurants, including VN Pho & Deli and Korea House. With more change expected to occur throughout the area of Charlotte Park, the neighborhood is quickly becoming a popular hotspot in Nashville.

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North Nashville

The North Nashville community is one of the oldest in the city and has a wealth of history dating back to the 1800s. In its early period, several German immigrants settled into what is now Germantown, and many freed African Americans settled into the now known area of Jefferson Street. The North Nashville community maintained its strong African American presence, and Jefferson Street became famous for its vibrant music scene.

Despite its rich history, the overall neighborhood lacked the available income to draw in new businesses. That is until the start of the urban renewal project in the early 2000s. The construction of Interstate 40 and Interstate 65 was the start of the gentrification process, displacing many residents in North Nashville. Community attractions and historic resources, such as Fisk University and the First Tennessee Park (the ballpark for the Nashville Sounds), also helped stimulate a change for the North Nashville economy. However, the gentrification for North Nashville escalated further following the neighborhood devastation from the March 2020 tornado.

Much of North Nashville has a distinctly urban feel to it and is very walkable. The residential development continues to flourish, with many new single-family homes, townhouses, and condominium complexes. The demand for real estate is quickly skyrocketing, and home prices range between $250K-$500K, depending on the location. North Nashville is transitioning into a creative hub, ideal for many local artists. The neighborhood is also putting itself on the map thanks to its growing culinary scene, which includes favorites like The Southern V and Willie B’s Kitchen & Lounge. With more development plans slated for North Nashville, this up and coming neighborhood is definitely one to keep on your radar.

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East Nashville - Dickerson Pike

The vast area of East Nashville consists of several smaller communities, many of which have already experienced a great deal of growth. However, the area of Dickerson Pike is just starting to put itself on the map as an up and coming neighborhood in Nashville. The location was once a popular destination for travelers in the early to mid-1900s. However, following the construction of Interstate 65 in 1958, the business traffic took a massive decline.

Although the area is still working to turn around its high crime rate, developers took a strong interest in Dickerson Pike for its prior lack of construction and stunning skyline views. The location is also featured as a transit corridor in the NashvilleNext growth plan, which includes a $6 billion regional transit system plan. While the neighborhood still has a lot of room to grow, the mixed-use development projects will aid in creating density for Dickerson Pike.

East Nashville’s increasing popularity also fueled the need for further expansion. Many of the proposed residential developments near Dickerson Pike are condominium complexes, attracting young professionals, singles, and empty nesters to live in the area. Dickerson Pike is already home to a handful of reputable restaurants, including Coneheads and Jay’s Family Restaurant. If the neighborhood turns out to be anything like its surrounding counterparts, you can count on seeing many more notable restaurants and bars to follow.

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Madison

Madison also makes our list for up and coming neighborhoods in Nashville to keep your eye on. Similar to Dickerson Pike, the area of Madison capitalizes on the homebuyers who can no longer afford the more popular destinations in East Nashville or Inglewood. The town’s history dates back to the early 1800s, however, it wasn’t until The Power Plant Boom of 1916 that the area saw an influx of residents. Many additional events contributed to its growth including, the opening of Madison Square Shopping Center in 1956 and the completion of The Old Hickory Dam in 1956. Over the years, Madison struggled with a staggering crime rate, creating an overall unfavorable image.

In 1988, the city began developing community plans for areas of projected growth, developments, and preservation. The Madison community plan was first established in 1993, updated in 1998, and again in 2009. The project plans included preserving Madison’s rural areas, historic structures, and established neighborhoods. It also involved creating a more diverse variety of commercial services, along with a balance of housing and employment opportunities.

Madison is now quickly grabbing the attention of many for its affordable housing options and improving crime rates. The location allows families to live adjacent to the more affluent neighborhoods, at a much lower cost. The average price of homes located in Madison is $250K. The area is currently home to a selection of local favorite restaurants, such as Smeraldos and Arigato Sayonara. Additional growth is evident for Madison, as the location is also slated for Nashville’s first light rail line, providing a direct connection to downtown.

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Southeast Nashville - Antioch

The neighborhood of Antioch gained its name from the Antioch First Baptist Church back in 1810. In the beginning, the small town was predominantly occupied by local farmers. However, the expansion of the Nashville sewer system in the 1970s drove up the residential population. Over the years, Antioch began gaining a bad rep for its increasing crime rates.

The breaking point occurred in 2017 when the community faced a mass shooting at a local church. Following the shooting, Antioch saw an increase in local law enforcement and an improvement in its crime. As the community grew stronger and safer, commercial and corporate businesses began to make a comeback and open throughout the neighborhood. The area has now become a hub for job opportunities and is the second-largest employment center in Nashville.

The demand for real estate in the neighborhood is quickly growing, and housing costs are rising along with its popularity. The average price of homes in Antioch is between $225K - $260K. While you can surely find new construction, the majority of the market consists of homes built in the later 1900s. Antioch is home to a number of diverse restaurants, ranging from Thai, Latin, Korean, and much more. The epic transformation of Antioch is not much of a kept secret anymore, and you’ll want to act fast if you’re considering living in this up and coming neighborhood.

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What Factors Sparked These Neighborhoods’ Rise

The driving factors contributing to the rise of these emerging neighborhoods include their close proximity to downtown Nashville and relatively affordable housing. Several locals in Nashville have a strong desire to live near the city’s urban center but are also on the hunt for the best bargain. In addition, each of these neighborhoods benefits from also having a developed surrounding area, furthering the appeal for the general location.

Our Final Thoughts

As the demand for living in Music City continues to rise, we can expect to see more up and coming neighborhoods pop up. While at first, you may have to compromise a few aspects in a transitioning neighborhood, purchasing a home at the right time and price can also be an excellent investment. For now, we’re keeping our eyes on these 5 new neighborhoods in Nashville and can’t wait to watch them grow.