Best Memphis Neighborhoods for Families

Memphis has a reputation as a high-crime city, but conditions are deeply uneven from one part of the metro to the next. The best Memphis neighborhoods for families include some of the most sought-after communities in Tennessee. Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Lakeland and Arlington each run their own municipal school district, which is a big reason families move there. Inside the city limits, East Memphis, Cordova and Cooper-Young offer very different lifestyles, and just across the state line, Olive Branch and Southaven in Mississippi round out the list. This guide compares all ten areas on schools, housing, daily life and the honest tradeoffs. Spyder Moving and Storage has a Memphis office, and our Memphis movers serve every one of these neighborhoods and suburbs.

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Memphis for Families?

For most families, the short answer is the eastern Shelby County suburbs: Germantown and Collierville for schools, Bartlett for value, and Lakeland and Arlington for newer homes. Inside Memphis, East Memphis suits families who want a short commute, Cordova suits families who want space, and Cooper-Young suits families who want a walkable historic neighborhood. The table shows where each area sits and which public school district serves it, since that is usually the deciding factor.

Which Suburbs of Memphis, TN Are Best for Families?

The suburbs of Memphis, TN that families ask about most are Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Lakeland and Arlington on the Tennessee side, plus Olive Branch and Southaven in Mississippi. The five Tennessee towns all launched their own school districts in the 2014–15 school year, separate from the Memphis-Shelby County system.

Germantown: best overall for families prioritizing schools

Germantown is the most common answer to “best Memphis neighborhood for families,” and it earns that position. Germantown Municipal School District operates independently of Memphis-Shelby County Schools and has a strong academic reputation, which is why demand for homes inside the district stays high. Poplar Avenue runs straight from Germantown toward downtown, and the city’s parks, greenway trails and community programs make it easy to settle in with kids. Our Germantown movers work in this area constantly.

The honest tradeoff: Germantown is one of the more expensive suburbs, starter homes are scarce, and daily life is quiet and car-dependent. If schools are the top priority and the budget allows it, few places in the metro compete. If you already live in the city, our guide for moving from Memphis to Germantown covers the short relocation, and these tips on moving to Germantown with kids help with the first weeks.

Collierville: best for families who want Town Square character

Collierville sits at the far eastern edge of Shelby County and has built its identity around its historic Town Square, a central park surrounded by locally owned shops and restaurants. For families with young children, the Square creates a real sense of neighborhood, with community events throughout the year.

Like Germantown, Collierville runs its own district, Collierville Schools. Housing leans toward newer construction on larger lots, and prices sit at the upper end of the metro. The honest tradeoff is distance: Collierville is the farthest of these suburbs from downtown, so families who work downtown or in the Medical District should test the drive at rush hour. Our Collierville movers serve this area regularly.

Bartlett: best value for families in Shelby County

Bartlett, in the northeast corner of Shelby County, is the practical choice for families who want a good school district and established neighborhoods at a lower price than Germantown or Collierville. Many subdivisions are mature, with trees, sidewalks and long-time neighbors. Bartlett runs its own district, Bartlett City Schools, and Stage Road covers most daily shopping without a drive into Memphis. The city’s recreation center on Flaherty Place, now operated by the YMCA, adds indoor courts, fitness classes and youth programs.

The honest tradeoff: Bartlett doesn’t have Germantown’s prestige or Collierville’s Town Square charm. It is a solid, practical suburb, which is exactly what many families need. Our Bartlett movers see steady demand here, and value is a big part of the appeal of moving to Bartlett for families already in Germantown.

Lakeland: best for families who want a newer community

Lakeland, just off I-40 east of Memphis, has grown largely through new family subdivisions. The Lakeland School System is the city’s own small, young district, created with the other municipal districts in 2014. Housing leans toward newer construction in planned communities, often with walking trails, pools and other shared amenities.

The honest tradeoff: Lakeland has less restaurant and retail density than Bartlett or Germantown, so residents drive to neighboring areas for much of their shopping, and the school district has a shorter track record than older districts. Our Lakeland movers can help with the move once you pick a subdivision.

Arlington: small-town feel, new construction

Arlington, in the far northeast of Shelby County, keeps a small-town feel while growing. New construction dominates, so families get modern layouts and spacious lots, and the town runs its own district, Arlington Community Schools. The tradeoff is distance: the drive into Memphis is longer than from Bartlett or Germantown. These pros and cons of living in Arlington go deeper, and families willing to drive a little farther can also weigh the benefits of living in Atoka, a growing Tipton County town.

Olive Branch and Southaven: the Mississippi suburbs of Memphis

Olive Branch and Southaven sit in DeSoto County, Mississippi, a short drive south of the city, and are served by DeSoto County Schools. Both towns have enough shopping and dining that daily errands rarely require a Memphis trip. Southaven adds big amenities such as Snowden Grove Park, one of the largest youth baseball complexes in the region, and the BankPlus Amphitheater next to it.

Remember that a move here crosses a state line: your taxes, car registration and driver’s license all change, and the move itself counts as interstate even though the drive is short. Spyder’s Olive Branch movers and movers in Southaven MS handle these moves regularly.

Which Neighborhoods Inside Memphis Work for Families?

Living inside the city limits trades suburban school districts for shorter commutes, older homes and more character. All three of these areas are served by Memphis-Shelby County Schools, so check the specific school zone for any address before you commit.

East Memphis: best for families who need a short commute

East Memphis is a collection of established neighborhoods along the Poplar Avenue corridor. It feels more urban than the suburbs and is still family-friendly. The housing stock is varied, from mid-century ranches to traditional two-story homes on large lots, and the area’s main shopping and office corridor is close by. Several well-known private schools are here too, including Hutchison School, Memphis University School and St. Mary’s Episcopal School, so many families choose East Memphis to access private education without a long drive.

The honest tradeoff: public school quality varies by zone, and conditions vary from block to block, with quiet residential streets next to busier commercial strips. Research the exact address, not just the area.

Cordova: best for families who want space

Cordova covers a wide band of eastern Memphis and Shelby County and has long been the practical middle ground: more affordable than the eastern suburbs and closer in than Lakeland. Its 1980s and 1990s subdivisions offer larger homes with mature landscaping, and the Germantown Parkway corridor, anchored by Wolfchase Galleria, covers groceries, medical offices and shopping. The tradeoff is that Cordova is car-dependent and school quality varies by zone. Our Cordova movers know the area well, and if you later trade up, this guide for moving from Cordova to Collierville covers the next step.

Cooper-Young: best for families who want urban character

Cooper-Young is walkable, eclectic and within the city limits, yet many families call it home. The Cooper-Young Historic District has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989, and its streets are lined with bungalows, Craftsman homes and Queen Anne houses. For families with young children, the draw is walkability and neighborhood identity: the Cooper-Young Community Association hosts events, including the annual Cooper-Young Festival, and the commercial strip around Cooper Street and Young Avenue has locally owned restaurants and coffee shops. Downtown is a short drive away.

The honest tradeoff: public school options require careful research. Not every zoned school performs at the level suburban families expect, and many residents use private schools or the district’s optional schools program. Older homes also bring renovation costs.

Where Can Kids Play in the Memphis Suburbs?

Space is not only about the yard. Each suburb has public places where kids can burn off energy:

• Collierville: W.C. Johnson Park, with ball fields, walking trails, playgrounds and a splash pad.
• Germantown: Cameron Brown Park and the Germantown Greenway, plus community programs for youth sports and the arts.
• Bartlett: the recreation center on Flaherty Place, now run by the YMCA, with courts and fitness programs under one roof.
• Lakeland: walking trails, neighborhood parks and community amenities in the newer subdivisions.
• Southaven: Snowden Grove Park for organized youth baseball and softball.

Before you commit, test the commute at rush hour. A suburb that feels perfect on a Saturday can look very different on a Monday morning.

How Should Families Choose a Memphis Neighborhood?

Different families weigh these factors differently, but these are the ones that most consistently decide whether a move works out:

• School strategy: if public schools are essential, district and zone boundaries should drive the decision. Compare districts and individual schools on the Tennessee Department of Education’s State Report Card; for Olive Branch and Southaven, use the Mississippi Department of Education’s report card.
• Safety data: look up current figures for the specific city or police jurisdiction through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s CrimeInsight data rather than relying on reputation.
• Commute tolerance: the suburbs with their own school districts sit farther from downtown. Drive your daily route before choosing a ZIP code.
• Home age and condition: neighborhoods closer to the city center have older housing, and renovation costs belong in the budget.
• Lifestyle fit: walkable city neighborhoods and car-dependent subdivisions feel very different day to day. Spend a Saturday in your top choices before committing.
• Budget: if price is the main filter, this list of budget-friendly suburbs in Memphis is a good companion.

Ready to Move to one of the Best Memphis Neighborhoods for Families?

Whether you choose Germantown for its schools, Bartlett for its value, or Cooper-Young for its walkable charm, the best neighborhoods and suburbs of Memphis give families options at very different price points. Once you’ve found the right place, Spyder Moving and Storage can handle the move from our Memphis office at 3290 New Getwell Rd Suite 204. Request a free estimate or call 901-329-9064 to plan your family’s move.