Memphis is in the headlines far too often. Unfortunately, it’s usually because of situations that have made it one of the most dangerous cities in the country–we’re just going to leave here… But, because we think that Memphis hasn’t always gotten a fair shake, HomeSnacks decided to shed some light on the great things that the Birthplace of Rock-n-Roll can offer: we’ve created a list of the best neighborhoods in Tennessee’s second largest city for 2026.
Memphis might have a naughty side–really, what city doesn’t–but, there are some great neighborhoods that deserve special recognition. But before we begin handing out awards, we need to tell you how we ranked each neighborhood. First, we looked at the latest census data for median income levels and affordability-specifically, how much do homes cost in each neighborhood. We then looked at the things that most people find important when determining where they want to buy their forever home–is the neighborhood safe? Are there jobs? And, is there a lot to do?
We discovered some interesting neighborhood facts that might even surprise the people who currently live in Memphis. For instance, East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire might not have a shiny exterior, but once inside this neighborhood, you are greeted with friendly people, great BBQ, and a sense of pride and community. And the Midtown doesn’t need a shiny bow either, because this place has classic, affordable Tennessee homes for less than $100,000, and it’s a great place to catch a jazz festival or take in an art exhibit at Brooks Museum.
So, want to know where it’s safe to “go walkin’ in Memphis”? You can start in Memphis’ number one best neighborhood. But, to get to this list, you’re going to have to keep reading.
$82,462 median income · $184,124 median home value
$68,405 median income · $168,247 median home value
$119,571 median income · $286,500 median home value
$60,304 median income · $147,292 median home value
$54,588 median income · $154,400 median home value
$40,518 median income · $128,531 median home value
$41,580 median income · $81,134 median home value
$49,911 median income · $105,147 median home value
$32,973 median income · $61,048 median home value
$30,027 median income · $112,443 median home value
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Tennessee’s statewide median.
Tennessee statewide median: $69,595
Tennessee statewide median: $333,651
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the best Memphis, TN neighborhoods in 2026
To rank the best neighborhoods in Memphis, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 13 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Memphis.” We’re lookin’ at you, River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Memphis, Tennessee has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Memphis.
The full plate
Table: Best Memphis neighborhoods for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral | 44,686 | $184,124 | $82,462 |
| 2 | Cordova-Appling | 70,645 | $168,247 | $68,405 |
| 3 | Windyke-Southwind | 2,234 | $286,500 | $119,571 |
| 4 | East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire | 104,210 | $147,292 | $60,304 |
| 5 | Eads-Fisherville | 3,796 | $154,400 | $54,588 |
| 6 | Midtown | 61,886 | $128,531 | $40,518 |
| 7 | Raleigh | 58,688 | $81,134 | $41,580 |
| 8 | Hickory Ridge-South Riverdale | 66,172 | $105,147 | $49,911 |
| 9 | Berclair-Highland Heights | 32,735 | $61,048 | $32,973 |
| 10 | Downtown | 48,022 | $112,443 | $30,027 |
| 11 | White Haven-Coro Lake | 87,467 | $78,449 | $39,603 |
| 12 | Shelby Forest-Frayser | 34,345 | $63,796 | $30,093 |
| 13 | Parkway Village-Oakhaven | 38,591 | $74,096 | $37,738 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 13 Memphis neighborhoods.
Summary
Summary: Putting a bow on our analysis of the best neighborhoods in Memphis
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Memphis where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Memphis are River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral, Cordova-Appling, Windyke-Southwind, East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire, Eads-Fisherville, Midtown, Raleigh, Hickory Ridge-South Riverdale, Berclair-Highland Heights, and Downtown.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Memphis aren’t all good. Parkway Village-Oakhaven takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Memphis.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below. Not sold on Tennessee? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Neighborhoods In Memphis FAQs
What is the best neighborhood in Memphis?
River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral is the best neighborhood in Memphis for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Cordova-Appling and Windyke-Southwind are next.
What are the best neighborhoods in Memphis?
The best neighborhoods in Memphis are River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral, Cordova-Appling, Windyke-Southwind, East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire, Eads-Fisherville, Midtown, Raleigh, Hickory Ridge-South Riverdale, Berclair-Highland Heights, and Downtown. We ranked all 13 neighborhoods in the city.
How expensive is River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral?
The median household income in River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral is $82,462 and the median home costs $184,124. The best blocks in Memphis rarely come at a discount.
How do you rank Memphis neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on income, home values, population density, unemployment, and crime, using Census tract data. The neighborhood with the best combined score, River Oaks-Kirby-Balmoral, takes the top spot.
Which Memphis neighborhood ranked last?
Parkway Village-Oakhaven came in last of the 13 neighborhoods we scored. Every city has a bottom of the table; in Memphis the numbers put it there.
