Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012)

This article, the seventeenth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Tennessee based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Tennessee, nine are suburbs of Nashville, six are suburbs of Memphis, four are suburbs of Chattanooga, and one is a suburb of Knoxville. By county, five of the best places to live in Tennessee are located in Shelby County, four in or partially in Williamson County, three in Davidson County, three in Hamilton County, two in Cheatham County, two in Fayette County, and one each partially in Knox, Loudon, and Maury Counties.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Tennessee (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated if new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Belle Meade, TN (Davidson County)

Population: 3,394

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $220,379
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 84.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.99

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 9 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 136 miles SE
Knoxville, TN: 185 miles E
Memphis, TN: 206 miles SW

2. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Forest Hills, TN (Davidson County)

Population: 5,839

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $178,873
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 74.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.99*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 8 miles NNE
Chattanooga, TN: 136 miles SE
Knoxville, TN: 185 miles E
Memphis, TN: 207 miles SW

3. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Brentwood, TN (Williamson County)

Population: 34,841

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $134,386
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.45

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 10 miles N
Chattanooga, TN: 128 miles SE
Knoxville, TN: 185 miles E
Memphis, TN: 211 miles SW

4. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Oak Hill, TN (Davidson County)

Population: 5,253

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $118,522
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 68.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.99*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 6 miles N
Chattanooga, TN: 129 miles SE
Knoxville, TN: 183 miles E
Memphis, TN: 217 miles SW

5. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Germantown, TN (Shelby County)

Population: 40,617

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $129,976
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.03

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 199 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 296 miles E
Knoxville, TN: 379 miles NE
Memphis, TN: 15 miles WNW
Oxford, MS: 64 miles SSE

6. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Collierville, TN (Shelby County)

Population: 38,989

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $118,314
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 49.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.75

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 202 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 287 miles E
Knoxville, TN: 381 miles ENE
Memphis, TN: 28 miles WNW
Oxford, MS: 56 miles S

7. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Signal Mountain, TN (Hamilton County)

Population: 7,236

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,066
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 62.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.41

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 133 miles NW
Chattanooga, TN: 8 miles SSE
Knoxville, TN: 119 miles NE
Memphis, TN: 323 miles W
Atlanta, GA: 125 miles SSE

8. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Farragut, TN (Knox and Loudon Counties)

Population: 20,247

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $106,621
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.1*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 166 miles WNW
Chattanooga, TN: 98 miles SSW
Knoxville, TN: 16 miles ENE
Memphis, TN: 377 miles WSW

9. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Arlington, TN (Shelby County)

Population: 3,735

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $105,687
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.97*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 185 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 317 miles ESE
Knoxville, TN: 365 miles ENE
Memphis, TN: 30 miles SW
Oxford, MS: 78 miles S

10. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Walden, TN (Hamilton County)

Population: 2,218

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,002
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.62

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 130 miles NW
Chattanooga, TN: 12 miles S
Knoxville, TN: 123 miles NE
Memphis, TN: 328 miles W
Atlanta, GA: 129 miles SSE

11. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Franklin, TN (Williamson County)

Population: 57,547

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $83,843
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 50.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.66*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 19 miles NNE
Chattanooga, TN: 130 miles SSE
Knoxville, TN: 194 miles E
Memphis, TN: 207 miles SW

12. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Kingston Springs, TN (Cheatham County)

Population: 2,926

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $99,517
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 30.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.35

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 22 miles ENE
Chattanooga, TN: 154 miles SE
Knoxville, TN: 202 miles E
Memphis, TN: 192 miles SW

13. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Lakeland, TN (Shelby County)

Population: 7,970

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $85,173
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.97*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 188 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 321 miles ESE
Knoxville, TN: 368 miles NE
Memphis, TN: 20 miles SW
Oxford, MS: 79 miles S

14. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Oakland, TN (Fayette County)

Population: 4,143

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $87,110
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 26.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.35

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 183 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 279 miles E
Knoxville, TN: 363 miles ENE
Memphis, TN: 36 miles WSW
Oxford, MS: 67 miles S

15. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Bartlett, TN (Shelby County)

Population: 47,525

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,220
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 34.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.14

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 196 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 328 miles E
Knoxville, TN: 376 miles ENE
Memphis, TN: 14 miles SW
Oxford, MS: 81 miles SSE

16. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Spring Hill, TN (Maury and Williamson Counties)

Population: 22,993

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $77,123
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 33.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.71

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 34 miles NNE
Chattanooga, TN: 135 miles SE
Knoxville, TN: 193 miles E
Memphis, TN: 208 miles WSW

17. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Hickory Withe, TN (Fayette County)

Population: 4,809

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $92,947
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 24.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.97*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 188 miles NE
Chattanooga, TN: 320 miles ESE
Knoxville, TN: 368 miles ENE
Memphis, TN: 30 miles WSW
Oxford, MS: 70 miles S

18. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Collegedale, TN (Hamilton County)

Population: 7,734

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $56,362
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.82

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 152 miles NW
Chattanooga, TN: 19 miles W
Knoxville, TN: 97 miles NE
Memphis, TN: 333 miles W

19. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Pegram, TN (Cheatham County)

Population: 2,436

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $79,192
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 25.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.69*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 17 miles ENE
Chattanooga, TN: 149 miles SSE
Knoxville, TN: miles 196 E
Memphis, TN: 195 miles SW

20. Best Places to Live in Tennessee (2012) - Nolensville, TN (Williamson County)

Population: 3,025

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $89,556
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 44.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 18.43

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Nashville, TN: 19 miles NNW
Chattanooga, TN: 124 miles SSE
Knoxville, TN: 185 miles E
Memphis, TN: 228 miles SW

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Tennessee," City-Data.com
" American Community Survey ," U.S. Census Bureau
" American Fact Finder ," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports," Federal Bureau of Investigation