Professionals, artists, college students, families, singles, night owls, early risers and more can all find a place in Memphis that they can comfortably call home. Threaded through all of the city’s neighborhoods is an overall sense of community that bands Memphis together (Though there is a dose of a lighthearted neighborhood rivalry). Here’s a look at some of the neighborhoods that make Memphis, well, Memphis.

Downtown

• Zip codes: 38103, 38105
• Miles from airport: 9
• Population: 19,721
• Average home prices 38103, 38104 and 38105: $179,428

Downtown is one of the most eclectic, diverse, and exciting places around. With a range of entertainment options that include all types of music, art, theater, and dance, downtown is a fascinating cultural hub. The famous Beale Street offers great food, cool drinks, and hot Memphis music. The history behind the influential area is preserved in a number of museums and historical spots.

Downtown also has plenty of family-friendly activities and entertainment. FedEx Forum attracts some of the most popular touring musical acts in the world, and the Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis Tigers Basketball team are great attractions for sports fans. Excitement in Downtown Memphis is just a short walk or trolley ride away.

Downtown’s prime riverside real estate is made up of several dynamic neighborhoods, including Harbor Town on Mud Island, South Bluffs, the South Main Historic Arts District, and the South End.

East Memphis

• Zip codes: 38117, 38119 and 38120
• Miles from airport: 6
• Population: 65,522
• Average home prices 38117, 38119 and 38120: $225,197

East Memphis is a commercial and residential powerhouse with many thriving businesses and great shopping. The Oak Court Mall and Laurelwood Shopping Center offer a variety of stores and plenty of job opportunities. Surrounding boutiques, shops, and restaurants dot the area.

With Audubon Park, the Memphis Botanic Garden, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and Lichterman Nature Center, there’s no shortage of natural beauty and lovely surroundings.

Midtown/Chickasaw Gardens

• Zip codes: 38111, 38112, 38104
• Miles from airport: 6
• Population: 85,852
• Average home prices 38111, 38112 and 38104: $147,054

Midtown is another great area full of eclectic atmospheres, cultural opportunities, and beautiful scenery. Historic Cooper-Young has excellent food, drink, and entertainment, including plenty of opportunities for live music at Young Avenue Deli, and the widest collection of movies at Black Lodge Video. This area has almost every cultural opportunity a person could want.

Overton Square is another hot dining spot in Midtown, with a wide variety of cuisine options from restaurants including Bari Ristorante, Boscos Squared, Bar Louie, Golden India, Lenny’s Sub Shop, Local Gastropub, Memphis Pizza Cafe, and Bayou Bar and Grill. Overton Square is also home to the Malco movie theater Studio on the Square. Midtown is also home to the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis College of Art, and Overton Park and Golf Course. The University of Memphis, Rhodes College, and Christian Brothers University also reside here.

North Memphis/Uptown

• Zip code: 38107
• Miles from airport: 10
• Population: 17,708
• Average home price: $76,723

North Memphis/Uptown began as a residential area and blossomed into a successful commercial environment. The area lies close to the Mississippi River and downtown, but is broken up into several neighborhoods such as Douglass and Hollywood. Some of these neighborhoods date back to the 1830s. The area is home to many community centers and parks, including Guthrie, Klondike, and Bickford Parks. There are also shopping opportunities and locally owned businesses.

Frayser

• Zip code: 38127
• Miles from airport: 13
• Population: 45,702
• Average home price: $29,141

With moderately priced, stately homes, Frayser has great housing options. Nestled near gorgeous Shelby Forest, Frayser is also notable for its rich, hilly terrain and large, sweeping trees. Frayser is outlined by three rivers: The Mississippi, the Loosahatchie and the Wolf. Frayser has 10 local parks that distinguish the area, including Firestone Park, Davy Crockett Park, and Rodney Baber Park – Davy Crockett is known for its golf course, while the community enjoys summer sports in Baber Park.

Cordova

• Zip code: 38016, 38018
• Miles from airport: 13
• Population: 82,278
• Average home price in 38016 and 38018 : $178,394

Cordova is a beautiful suburban area on the eastern edge of Memphis. It offers a combination of shopping centers, big-box retailers, restaurants, office space, small businesses, and churches. Cordova has something for everyone. The Wolfchase Galleria, on the northern edge of the neighborhood, is an anchor for shoppers around the region. Not everything in Cordova is developed land though: the beautiful Shelby Farms Park, the nation’s largest urban park, borders Cordova and offers visitors fields, wooded terrains, bike, jogging, and hiking trails, and horseback riding. The Wolf River and Patriot Lake offer a calming influence in the midst of the city whether under the power of a sail or paddle.

Hickory Hill

• Zip codes: 38115, 38125, 38141
• Miles from airport: 6
• Population: 104,924
• Average home prices:
  • 38115: $68,876
  • 38125: $168,264
  • 38141: $81,370

Hickory Hill lies in Southeast Memphis, a comfortable neighborhood with a diverse demographic and many nice middle-class neighborhoods. The area offers upscale homes, with pools and vaulted ceilings. Locals can shop at many rapidly expanding commercial retail centers. With Bill Morris Parkway bordering one side of it, Hickory Hill is accessible to everywhere else in the region.

Jackson/Berclair

• Zip codes: 38108, 38122
• Miles from airport: 10
• Population: 44,005
• Average home prices:
  • 38108: $23,054
  • 38122: $62,581

The Jackson/Berclair area consists of working- class neighborhoods as well as large, historic homes on sprawling green lots. The areas have easy access to Memphis through Sam Cooper Boulevard, I-240, Jackson Avenue, and Summer Avenue. The area contains Grahamwood Elementary School, an award-winning school renowned for its academic excellence. There are also numerous churches in the area, along with some of the locally owned shops along Jackson and Summer.

Oakhaven/Parkway Village