Tennessee gets a lot of attention for its music, its mountains, and — honestly — its crime stats. But drive twenty minutes outside Nashville, or head up into the ridges above Chattanooga, and you will find a different Tennessee: small towns where violent crime is so rare that one incident can define the year. According to SafeWise’s 2026 annual report, the safest cities in Tennessee include places with fewer than one violent crime per 1,000 residents.
TL;DR: SafeWise’s 2026 ranking, built on FBI violent and property crime data, puts Nolensville at No. 1 with 0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. Church Hill climbed six spots, and Collegedale posted the lowest violent crime rate of all at 0.2 per 1,000.
The honest framing: Tennessee’s statewide violent crime rate runs above the national average, so where you live within the state matters enormously. Memphis is the state’s highest-crime city — the opposite end of the spectrum. For a regional comparison, see our ranking of Georgia’s 10 safest cities in 2026.
All figures below come from SafeWise’s 2026 report and its analysis of FBI crime data. VC means violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
The Safest Cities in Tennessee for 2026
1. Nolensville — 0.5 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 18,450. Takes the top spot in SafeWise’s 2026 ranking. This small Williamson County town just southeast of Nashville has grown fast without losing its grip on safety.
2. Church Hill — 0.3 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 7,311. The year’s biggest climber, jumping six spots. This Hawkins County town in eastern Tennessee posts one of the lowest violent crime rates on the entire list.
3. Kingston — 1.3 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 6,306. Earns No. 3: SafeWise reports no rapes in the Roane County town during the reporting year, where the Tennessee, Clinch, and Emory rivers meet.
4. Signal Mountain — 0.9 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 8,935. The Chattanooga-area town sits atop Walden’s Ridge — views and safety both. A fixture of the state’s safest-city lists, still firmly in the top five.
5. Oakland — 0.8 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 11,026. Stands out with no rapes reported and a violent crime rate below one per 1,000. A compelling option for Memphis-area workers who want to stay in the region.
6. Fairview — 1.2 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 10,496. This Nashville-metro Williamson County town has seen violent crime decline three straight years — a sign of consistent local policing and community investment.
7. Maryville — 1.3 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 32,583. The largest city on this list proves safety is not limited to tiny towns: just south of Knoxville with easy Smoky Mountain access, holding violent crime to 1.3 per 1,000.
8. Collegedale — 0.2 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 11,599. Violent crime fell sharply year over year, and at 0.2 per 1,000 this is the lowest rate on the list — with no rapes reported. A Hamilton County town just outside Chattanooga.
9. Greenbrier — 1.6 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 6,949. North of Nashville in Robertson County, Greenbrier closes the top ten at 1.6 per 1,000 — far below the state average, in a town where neighbors know each other.
10. Brentwood — 0.6 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 45,208. The largest city on the list and one of Tennessee’s most affluent suburbs, holding violent crime to 0.6 per 1,000 at 45,000+ residents.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Size is no excuse: Maryville (32,583) and Brentwood (45,208) both made the top ten. Momentum matters — Fairview’s third straight year of decline and Collegedale’s sharp drop show safety is a target cities can win. One caution: crime data reflects reported incidents and conditions change, so verify locally before moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest city in Tennessee in 2026?
According to SafeWise’s 2026 annual report, Nolensville ranks No. 1 with 0.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The Williamson County town of 18,450 topped the ranking.
Is Tennessee a safe state to live in?
Tennessee’s statewide violent crime rate runs above the national average, so the state as a whole is not low-crime. But the cities on this list sit far below the state average — the city you choose matters enormously.
What city in Tennessee has the lowest violent crime rate?
Collegedale is lowest at 0.2 per 1,000. Church Hill (0.3) and Nolensville (0.5) also sit below one per 1,000; SafeWise weighs property crime too, which is why No. 1 went to Nolensville.
What is the most dangerous city in Tennessee?
Memphis is widely cited as Tennessee’s highest-crime city, with violent crime far above the state average — the opposite end of the spectrum from the communities on this list.
Are Nashville suburbs safe?
Yes — Nolensville (No. 1), Fairview (No. 6), Greenbrier (No. 9), and Brentwood (No. 10) all rank in the top ten. Nashville itself is not in the top ten.
Where is the data on Tennessee’s safest cities from?
SafeWise’s 2026 annual report on Tennessee’s safest cities, which analyzes the FBI’s published violent and property crime statistics for Tennessee cities.
Is Knoxville a safe city?
Knoxville itself is not in SafeWise’s 2026 top ten, but nearby Maryville (population 32,583, rate 1.3 per 1,000) ranked No. 7 — the safe pick in the Knoxville area, with easy Smoky Mountain access.
What counts as a violent crime in these rankings?
The FBI’s standard categories: murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, measured per 1,000 residents. SafeWise’s overall methodology also factors in property crimes like burglary and theft.
How does the 2026 ranking compare to last year?
Church Hill was the biggest mover, climbing six spots to No. 2. Fairview extended a three-year streak of declining violent crime, and Collegedale’s rate dropped sharply year over year.
Should I move to one of Tennessee’s safest cities?
The cities on this list are strong starting points based on the latest FBI data. Also weigh jobs, schools, cost of living, and commute — and verify conditions locally.
