Moving to Memphis? Read this before you post!

Hi there!

I'm sure you have a lot of questions about moving to Memphis. The city has a reputation for sure, and I can understand wanting to get to the bottom of it before you settle in M-Town.

• Is Memphis full of crime?
• What neighborhood should I live in?
• What neighborhoods should I avoid?
• How are jobs?
• How can I get around?
• What are some other common questions answered by r/memphis Redditors?

Before posting, read this post and even click through some posts other users have made. If you still find yourself with questions unanswered, go ahead! However, posts containing questions that are repeatedly answered all the time may be downvoted.

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Is Memphis full of crime?

It's debatable. The Memphis Police Department has a special way of reporting crime statistics, and this has been attributed to the extremely high rate of crime in the area. There's crime mappers out there that can help you determine whether or not the neighborhood you're looking at is safe. Statistically, downtown (38103) is the safest zip code.

Which neighborhood should I live in?

The majority in r/memphis believe that living "inside the loop" (that is, the Interstate 240 loop) is best. Midtown is a popular part of town, and encompasses quite a bit of that area within the 240 loop. The Overton Square area is getting quite popular in Midtown, as well as neighborhoods along Madison Avenue.

Cooper-Young, located in Midtown, is a popular neighborhood for younger or hipper residents. It's been called the "hipster" part of town. A lot of bars are in this small neighborhood, along with some eclectic shops. Chain stores/restaurants (with the exception of Urban Outfitters and Whole Foods) are looked down on in this area.

East Memphis is a good area for families. Schools are in close proximity, houses are reasonably priced, and neighborhoods within the area tend to be friendly. Check neighborhoods along Walnut Grove heading east for this area.

The University area, near the University of Memphis, is a little less safe than the two previous areas, but the proximity to the largest university in the area is a big plus for students. There's some bars on the Highland Strip, located right next to the school. It's close enough to Midtown and Cooper-Young to still be a good place to live, despite the crime.

As far as outside the loop, there are a couple of areas that are worth looking into.

Downtown is becoming a fun place to live. Locally-owned bars are opening up, as well as cool places along Main Street. The South Main Arts District is adding to the value of the area. The ability to walk everywhere is a big plus. Law students tend to live downtown, as the University of Memphis Law School is located on Front Street. If you're working downtown, living in a high rise downtown is worth looking into.

If you've got some money, Harbor Town may be an option for you. The area is on Mud Island and its close proximity to downtown is a plus for some people. People feel safe on the island and its small-town feel can be a big plus, especially if you want to still be close to the action of downtown or Midtown. Young and old upper middle-class families set up shop here.

In this subreddit, people tend to downplay the suburbs, but this is a national trend being reflected in opinions. People are just moving back into cities and moving out of the suburbs. That said, suburbs that come up a lot are Bartlett, Cordova, Germantown, Collierville, and Olive Branch/Southaven. If you don't really want to live in a city, but be close to one, living in one of our suburbs is a great option for you.

These suburbs also have a noticeable amount of crime, but they are a result of "white flight" in the city, and therefore families tend to feel safer. Olive Branch and Southaven are located in Mississippi. The suburbs do have more chain restaurants, Walmarts, and more shopping options if you're looking for consistency (e.g. known brands in malls, etc). If you work in the east side of the city outside of the loop, it'd be a good option for you to live in the 'burbs.

As far as prices of apartments and houses, Bartlett is middle-class range, Cordova a little higher than that, followed by Germantown and then Collierville. Germantown and Collierville are so far away from the city, it's hard to justify living there without working out east.

Bartlett has a very suburban feel. The major road is Stage Road, which goes through the original town square in the area. Younger, church-going families or older couples tend to live in these areas, but there are pockets of college students and working professionals taking advantage of the area.

Cordova is retail city with sprawling apartment complexes throughout the area. On the edge of Cordova is Wolfchase Mall, a shopping destination for those living in the suburbs. Within the area, though, you have plenty of big-box shopping options and family-friendly activities going on. Families with teenagers tend to live in this area as well as young adults.

In Germantown, families tend to set up shop because they feel safer than living in, or closer to, Memphis. Since Germantown is its own town, property values are higher and resources are better allocated. (Thanks u/doofus62!)

Southwind, located outside of the loop, is also a good option for those working at FedEx Headquarters. It is a safer area that is a little bit outside of the city. It's near plenty of retail shops and its proximity to the Interstate can be helpful to those trying to spend their evenings elsewhere.

What neighborhoods should I avoid?

Let me preface by saying this: any city you move to is going to have sketchy or dodgy areas. Memphis doesn't have more or less than other major cities, per se, but the reputation that Memphis is a dangerous city, coupled with our sketchy areas, tends to have people asking this question more often than not.

That being said, North Memphis tends to have a very high rate of crime, as well as the area around the airport. In North Memphis, the neighborhoods that tend to be a little scary are Frayser and Raleigh. Hickory Hill has the nickname of "Hickory Hood," so take that as you will.

Our "stay within the loop" advice is going to have some exceptions, as with all rules. Orange Mound, located near the University area, tends to be an unsafe area. In looking for a place to live, the areas around Summer Avenue tends to be a street to avoid until you head towards the east side of town.

All of that being said, there will be pockets of areas that are safer. Memphis has a trend of "good street, bad street," where one street will be higher-end houses and the next street will be low-income housing. Because of this, it's hard to make blanket statements about certain areas. The best way to see if your future apartment or house is in a safe area is to check it out on this crime map. No area will be completely crime-free, keep that in mind.

How are jobs?

Like everywhere else, getting a job here is difficult. Memphis is held up by major distribution centers. Major companies here include International Paper, FedEx, LeBonheur Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and AutoZone, among others.

How can I get around?

Public transportation is getting better. Our system here is called MATA. It can come across as a little convoluted, but once you learn the routes, you'll be good. MATA has been actively trying to fix issues it's had as well as trying to fight off a stigma that it still sucks. The trolley system downtown is fantastic for getting around, but only reaches as far as halfway down Madison Avenue. (Use Google Maps, believe it or not.)

Getting a car to move around here is crucial, unless you live and work in Midtown/Downtown. Getting around by bike is becoming very popular as the city is trying to build more bike lanes.

All of that said, many users here will tell you to avoid streets named after states.

What other common questions have been answered by r/memphis Redditors?

What would you recommend for a bank/credit union?

What Internet Service Provider do I get?

Where should I get my groceries?

What are some some things people may not know exist?

Is it worth moving to Memphis from a big city?

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If I have missed anything, please feel free to explain in the comments so I can add it to the post!