Relocating to Memphis but only been through the city once. (Millington: apartments, rental)

[TNTinkerbelle]

I am taking a job in Memphis. I have only driven through the city once and been to the mall area in Cordova once. I will need to rent a house in the rural area of the county or away from the busiest part of the city. What areas should I avoid. Unfortunately I am not financially able to make several trips out there from South Carolina so I will have to make all of my housing decisions long distance. If anyone could advise me I would appreciate a response by email. Since I am not familiar with are names I would need street boundaries and detailed directions. I will be living with a child with health problems so that must be taken into consideration since she will be home by herself most days.

[Pearlbob]

Anything "rural" or out in the country is going to be safe and away from the inner city crime problems that you would see in areas of town.

Atoke, Munford, Arlington come to mind. I don't know anything about specific street names, but you're not going to find rampant crime in rural areas.

[pushkinswife]

How far are you willing to commute? Eads TN even some parts of MS...just depends on the drive. I don't have exact street names for I live within the city. You can check Commercial Appeal : Memphis News, Business, Homes, Jobs, Cars, & Information The Memphis Flyer & Moderator cut: removed realtor link
However, you might want to rent an apartment initially: Apartments.com - Free Nationwide Apartment Search with the Most Visual Rental Listings Online.
Good luck.

[TN-rox]

Best, most rural area in Shelby County would either be Millington or Arlington.

[RikBrooks]

Olive Branch is just over the border in Mississippi. Unfortunately the problems of Memphis have spread out and slowly infested outlying areas. Mississippi avoids much of it because our social programs, welfare and such is so stingy that the types of people that bring crime don't want to live here.

It's tough being poor in Mississippi, the state doesn't help you out much. The good part of that is that I live spitting distance from Memphis but my neighborhood is Mayberry RFD

[k350]

My advice is do yourself the biggest favor in the world and do not take the job in Memphis.

[MrOtiose]

Well, make your first stop at a Gun shop. Get plenty ammo and the next stop the Dog pound, get a big, mean dog and you might venture to a door and window dealer and have them install some strong doors and window bars.
Welcome to the city of Memphis.
I know this sounds threating but if you must work in Memphis the best conditions are in the county... Tipton County.
I work for the City of Memphis... counting down to retirement.

[mzloolue]

I would probably look in Millington.

Arlington is growing a bit too rapidly.

The trick will be finding a rental in the less developed areas.

It would really depend on which part of the city you work in and how long a drive you are willing to make.

[JTC11]

Millington is a nice place, it has a lot of poor people, but it's not a dangerous place at all. The town is growing too. So many new businesses are being built along Highway 51, and many new neighborhoods are going up as well. The only thing holding Millington back are its schools. If you have kids, then I wouldn't advise moving there because the schools are horrible, probably the worst in Shelby County. Many kids are bussed in from Frayser and Northaven, these are troubled Urban areas of Memphis, so the school has many of the problems of an inner city school. Westside High in Frayser was just closed last year, so now even more kids from Frayser go to Millington.

[mzloolue]

The public schools in Millington are Shelby County Schools.
Students are required to be from Shelby County, outside of Memphis, to attend.
It is required to show documentation to prove residence.
Good valid documentation.

Frayser is inside the Memphis city limits.
Therefore students who live in Frayser must attend Memphis City Schools.

Also Millington does not have an excessive number of poor people.