Mempis safe for young family? (Memphis, Portland: neighborhoods, public schools, quality of life)

[everafter]

We moved here to Collierville one year ago, and we're leaving here this month for Franklin, TN. Yes, Collierville is about the safest suburb of Memphis and we do feel very safe here in our home. However, to do anything at all - groceries, movies, restaurants - one has to go to Poplar Avenue which leads to the highway in one direction and to Memphis in the other, which makes it a thoroughfare for criminals. Crime is apparent all along the business area, with carjackings, stolen vehicles, and drugs, in just the year we've been here. If you leave Collierville or Germantown you would then be helped by Memphis police and they are far too busy to do much, let alone show up soon if you are in trouble. In my opinion greater Memphis is not at all a safe place for a young family. I would strongly advise a small suburb of an entirely different metropolitan area.

[CrystalNikky]

I'm having to the same exact problem I'm relocating here for work I've been told by co-worker move east or move to the country( Millington) I have an 11-year-old son and my fiance and I both just started 2 full-time jobs here. People also recommended moving to Cordova, Germantown, and Collierville. The problem I'm having is finding a house instead of an apartment.

[Mississippimarkus]

I personally feel very safe in Memphis. Except the crazy driving style most Memphians have.


East Memphis offers great little houses for not much money but I think most parents put their kids in private school.


Germantown, Cordova, Collierville and Bartlett probably have better schools but I would not want to live there. Houses are a lot bigger there and a lot more expensive. General speaking Memphis is cheap when it comes to RE.
Make sure to come here first for awhile before you buy a house. And Collierville for example can be a heck of a commute if you work in downtown.



Midtown is hip but in my opinion overrated because of the low air traffic they get.

They are also building a lot of apartments downtown right now.

[The Fruglar]

I have a young family in Memphis.

Been here a little over a year.

Crime is a problem - had two break-ins (teenagers looking to grab whatever they could and then run) before I got a dog and a better lock. But that's hardly unique to Memphis.

The violent stuff is more neighborhood specific and that's easily avoided, just like in any bigger city. Germantown and Collierville are classic affluent American suburbs. Very comfortable living for young families.

[mattec]

Originally Posted by everafter

We moved here to Collierville one year ago, and we're leaving here this month for Franklin, TN. Yes, Collierville is about the safest suburb of Memphis and we do feel very safe here in our home. However, to do anything at all - groceries, movies, restaurants - one has to go to Poplar Avenue which leads to the highway in one direction and to Memphis in the other, which makes it a thoroughfare for criminals. Crime is apparent all along the business area, with carjackings, stolen vehicles, and drugs, in just the year we've been here. If you leave Collierville or Germantown you would then be helped by Memphis police and they are far too busy to do much, let alone show up soon if you are in trouble. In my opinion greater Memphis is not at all a safe place for a young family. I would strongly advise a small suburb of an entirely different metropolitan area.

There's crime in Franklin too.

[techie_g]

Originally Posted by mattec

There's crime in Franklin too.

I lived close to Franklin and also lived in Germantown. Memphis is far worse based on my own experience. It's true that crime exists everywhere, but it's a matter of degree, type and severity. Memphis crime is very well documented, just like Baltimore for example.

[mattec]

Originally Posted by techie_g

I lived close to Franklin and also lived in Germantown. Memphis is far worse based on my own experience. It's true that crime exists everywhere, but it's a matter of degree, type and severity. Memphis crime is very well documented, just like Baltimore for example.

But I'm not comparing Memphis to Franklin in that post; I'm comparing Collierville to Franklin.

Based on City-Data's crime stats, both cities have very similar rates of crime and generally fluctuate year to year between which one has more crime.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Franklin-Tennessee.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Collie...Tennessee.html

[CaseyLF]

Is East Memphis safe?

[CaseyLF]

Originally Posted by everafter

We moved here to Collierville one year ago, and we're leaving here this month for Franklin, TN. Yes, Collierville is about the safest suburb of Memphis and we do feel very safe here in our home. However, to do anything at all - groceries, movies, restaurants - one has to go to Poplar Avenue which leads to the highway in one direction and to Memphis in the other, which makes it a thoroughfare for criminals. Crime is apparent all along the business area, with carjackings, stolen vehicles, and drugs, in just the year we've been here. If you leave Collierville or Germantown you would then be helped by Memphis police and they are far too busy to do much, let alone show up soon if you are in trouble. In my opinion greater Memphis is not at all a safe place for a young family. I would strongly advise a small suburb of an entirely different metropolitan area.

That bad?

[KY_Transplant]

Originally Posted by CaseyLF

That bad?

I have a young family and I travel to Memphis multiple times each month for business. I would never raise my family in Memphis or its suburbs.

There is crime in every city, but crime is disproportionately high in Memphis, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone as it has been well documented. Just look at some of the recent headlines about the operation to crack down in road rage and violent shootings on the Interstates!

Talk to the locals, they will tell you. I can’t even begin to state how often I hear locals complain about crime and the State of affairs for Memphis. Drive around Memphis, even the good areas in East Memphis and suburbs and look at all the little Police towers and flashing blue lights...they are not there for no reason.