The 5 Best Neighborhoods to Live in When You Move to Memphis

Grant Oster
May 3, 2018
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You can take your pick of the best neighborhoods of Memphis that fit your lifestyle and income level. It’s a pretty good place to be, seeing as Memphis was ranked 6th on a list of 52 cities that remind us we live on a pretty awesome planet (Fodor’s Go List 2018).

The Bluff City was built on the bluffs overlooking the wide Mississippi River. It gave the early settlers high-rise protection from flooding and attack, and a gigantic waterway for transportation and trade. Today it is a thriving city, rich in culture, history, and amazingly-awesome neighborhoods. .

1. Cooper-Young

Perfect neighborhood for: Millennials, the adventurous, and start-up business owners

Cooper-Young’s tagline is “Historically Hip.” It describes the bustling neighborhood of historical homes and new shopping centers perfectly. Located around the junction of Cooper Street and Young Avenue, this neighborhood is a residential area with just enough commercial leeway to become a hotspot of local food and entertainment.

Memphis Magazine calls Cooper-Young a “country in the city.” The residents—originals and adoptees—agree.

Resident Kristen Schebler says that those looking to live in Cooper-Young like the city, but want a place that “feels like you can talk to your neighbors face to face, and trade tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden.”

Fellow resident Tamara Cook describes the feel as “bohemian” in the sense that diversity thrives and is welcomed in this residential melting pot. Startup business owners can easily join the local scene and contribute to the variety of food and entertainment.

Highlights:

  • Beauty Shop: It takes you away to the scene of a 1940s hairdressing place and feeds you divine French toast with challah in the mornings.
  • The night life: While Alchemy draws the new and the curious, and Young Avenue Deli has the rockers and the college set (and the best french fries), Tsunami is a quiet bar for socialization, serving up Asian fusion cuisine.

2. East Memphis-Colonial-Yorkshire

Perfect neighborhood for: Families, young professionals

East Memphis is a fascinating combination of the residential and the corporate, with much of the space dedicated to neighborhood areas beside different company headquarters. The feel is of a mini-city all on its own, with local shopping in the boutiques, local cuisine in the restaurants, and parks and gardens that offer a bit of R&R.

In terms of livability, Areavibes.com  ranks it 5th in Memphis, and gives the neighborhood plus points for “Sunny Weather,” “Low Cost of Living,” and “Lots of Local Amenities.” A reviewer who has lived in Memphis her whole life says, “we are centrally located to many events and attractions no matter what season of the year it is.” She recommends East Memphis as a great place to raise a family.

Highlights:

  • Folk’s Folly: A prime steak house run by the Folk family, homegrown and delicious.
  • Shelby Farms: A quick and easy way to get your outdoor fix. Go on hikes, bike trails, and horseback paths as refreshment and exercise at the same time.

3. Cordova

Perfect neighborhood for: Families with younger children

Fun Fact: Cordova only settled on its final name in 1900. Previously, it went through 3 other town names.

Cordova was originally a small town on a railroad stop. Even though it is now a fast-growing residential area, it still preserves a lot of that small-town life. In fact, because of the ease of travel from home to work, it is the type of neighborhood where you can live a suburban life, without the tiresome suburban commute.

One resident adds, “The homeowners respect each other and the neighborhood and look out for each other.” Another big selling point, however, is its affordability—if you have or are planning on having a larger family, the Cordova payoff is more space for less pay.

Highlights:

  • Cordova Community Center: Family comes first and you can find all sorts of classes and facilities for everyone.
  • Incredible Pizza Company: Now we all know that the easiest way to feed a bunch of hungry kids is through great pizza.

4. Harbor Town on Mud Island

Perfect neighborhood for: Millennials, young professionals, and families who love to enjoy local culture without straying too far from home

Like its name suggests, it is literally a town on an island (or more precisely, a peninsula), with all the romantic features this entails. Walking and biking are highly encouraged to get from point to point, and you can take a boat or the bridge to the mainland. The neighborhood is peppered with eating places, schools, even a shopping center and a theater.

It’s a place to live, work, and stay refreshed, with a glimpse of the central city on the horizon just to remind you of how lucky you are. The founder’s dream for Memphis was that it would “give Memphis a distinct and warm feeling so that people will see they’re amidst inviting homes, not just a commercial area. And that’s what we have.”

Highlights:

  • Mud Island River Park: A to-scale model of the Mississippi you can walk when you’re feeling like cool water and grounded history are all you need.
  • River Inn: Sometimes you need to escape farther than the Peninsula; what better place than an inn overlooking the river?

5. Central Gardens

Perfect Neighborhood for: Families, businessmen and doctors, individuals with a love for the historic

Fun fact: 1,350 of the houses and churches in Central Gardens are found on the National Historic Register.

Central Gardens is a residential area that feels both timeless and homey, the result of a long history and a thriving community. At the same time, you can drive 10 minutes one direction to downtown Memphis, or 15 minutes another direction to Memphis International Airport.

More than that, it’s easy to create memories and regular routines in Central Gardens. Temptingly accessible by car and on foot are the Memphis Zoo, Overton Park, the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, and so much more. Churches and schools line and dot the area, giving you more than enough choices.

Highlights:

  • Front porches: In a nation of long lawns and faraway doors, it’s refreshing to find a neighborhood where you are still invited to hang out on the front porch.
  • The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception: An early 20th-century church, its Romanesque style fits its designation as Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Memphis, and is beautiful to meditate and worship in.

There’s a Neighborhood for Everyone in Memphis

Memphis real estate agent Katie Davidson says, “Memphis is one of those big cities with a small town feel, because of the close knit communities within it.”

And it is great neighborhoods like these that are exemplary of the close-knit communities that make Memphis such an amazing city to live, work, and play in.

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