Relocate to Nashville? (Chapel Hill: affordable apartment, rent, crime rates)

[kristen0886]

Hi everyone! I’m considering a move to Nashville from North Carolina and am just trying to learn more about the area.

I’m 23, so I love the idea of living towards downtown and not in the suburbs, where things were a little more alive and I could meet people. Safety is also a huge priority since I’d be living by myself. Any recommended neighborhoods? I’ve seen a lot about Hillsboro Village that is really appealing to me – I love walkable places and the local coffee shops/bookstores etc. Are there affordable apartment complexes in this neighborhood (I come from an area with high rent, so affordable is relative - $700-$800 range for a studio/1BR is good)? Other neighborhoods in the area/with a similar feel I should consider? I know nothing about the area!!

In terms of safety, are there neighborhoods/streets to definitely avoid?

I’ve heard Nashville is great for nature etc. I love to trail run – are there good parks for running etc?

Anything else ya’ll want to tell me about Nashville? Try & sell me on why/why not to move!

[Shino306]

Hillsboro Village and the Belmont area sound like they may what you're looking for...being walkable and close to local places. I can't speak about rent though, my two bedroom when I lived in Hillsboro was ~$1k a month, however that was close to 5 years ago, so I'm sure it's increased since then.
In that area you should be fine from a safety perspective, just use your head as anyone should do anywhere.

Nashville is great! Lots of things going on and to do (outdoor activities as well as indoor, i.e. live music, cultural stuff, etc), the people are nice, they have good locally owned restaurants. It's a pretty vibrant town for its size.
I don't know where in NC you're coming from, however my husband looked at a position at Duke and we like(d) Nashville a lot more than the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area. It's more cosmopolitan and less strip mall-esque, although we do have strip malls in Nashville don't get me wrong.

Good Luck in your decision!

[isee]

Coolsprings area apartments in the Williamson county might appeal to you. Crime rates WAY lower than Davidson county.

[Big TR]

Originally Posted by isee

Coolsprings area apartments in the Williamson county might appeal to you. Crime rates WAY lower than Davidson county.

OP says they don't want to live in the suburbs....

[Shino306]

Originally Posted by isee

Coolsprings area apartments in the Williamson county might appeal to you. Crime rates WAY lower than Davidson county.

Along with not wanting to live in the burbs, Cool Springs is also not as walking friendly as Hillboro Village, which the OP mentioned was important.

[aaronmidnight]

My wife and I went hiking in Percy Warner parks this afternoon and there were lots of people jogging with dogs. We've just moved to the Bellevue area of Nashville and it feels very safe. Definitely less walkable and central than Hillsboro Village, but we felt the tradeoff was worth it for the better quality and priced apartment we found out here. You could easily get a 1 bedroom in Bellevue for $800, I think. I've heard that lots of young people who move to Nashville start out in Bellevue. We're a bit older than you (30s), so you might enjoy being more central.

Good luck in making your decision and finding a neighborhood that you like!

[kristen0886]

Thanks so much for the responses and advice, everyone!! I'm not sure how everything will work out, but I am currently interviewing for a job in Nashville and just want to have a better idea of what I might be getting into. It all happened really fast, but I'm excited at the possibility. I welcome any more tips anyone has! Thanks again!!