Living in Forest Hills, TN: The Honest Guide to Nashville's Quiet Luxury Enclave

Forest Hills is a separately incorporated city within Davidson County that most Nashville-area buyers underestimate. It's not Belle Meade — there's less old-money concentration and less name recognition. It's not Brentwood — you're staying in Davidson County rather than crossing into Williamson. What it is, is one of the highest space-per-dollar luxury markets in Middle Tennessee.

Here's how we explain Forest Hills to clients deciding between it and the neighboring options.

Where Forest Hills actually sits

Forest Hills occupies the area between Green Hills (to the north) and Brentwood (to the south), wrapping around parts of Granny White Pike and Tyne Boulevard. It's a small city — about 4 square miles, ~5,000 residents — with its own city government, police, and zoning controls.

Who actually thrives here

• •Luxury buyers wanting space. Most Forest Hills lots run 1-5 acres with custom-built homes. If acreage matters more than walkability, this submarket competes with — and often beats — Brentwood on dollar-per-square-foot.
• •Privacy-focused families. The combination of large lots, mature tree canopies, and limited commercial development gives Forest Hills a meaningfully quieter character than central Green Hills.
• •Buyers who want Davidson County tax structure. Compared to Williamson County (Brentwood/Franklin), Davidson County property tax rates are typically lower on equivalent valuations.
• •Custom home builders. Several lots in Forest Hills are sold as buildable land for custom new construction; turnover is slow but possible.

Forest Hills vs Brentwood — the honest comparison

Brentwood typically commands higher median prices and has stronger brand recognition. Forest Hills typically offers more square footage per dollar at the comparable luxury tier. Commute to downtown Nashville is similar (15-25 minutes either way). Both have private school options nearby. The decision often comes down to: do you want the Williamson County school district zoning (Brentwood) or Davidson County structure (Forest Hills)?

Current pricing realities

Median values currently run around $1.95M with the range spanning roughly $900K to $7M+. Custom builds on prime acreage can trade higher. Tear-down-and-rebuild scenarios are increasingly common — buyers acquire mid-century homes on premium lots specifically to redevelop.

What 'separately incorporated' means

Same logic as Belle Meade and Oak Hill: Forest Hills has its own city government, including its own police and code enforcement. Property tax structure adds a small city tax on top of Davidson County tax.

Who should look elsewhere

• •Buyers who want walkability. Forest Hills is car-dependent. If proximity-to-walkable-retail matters, Green Hills or central Nashville is the better fit.
• •Buyers under $1M. The Forest Hills floor sits around $900K for anything turnkey. Below that, you're looking at fixer-uppers on smaller lots.
• •Buyers who need significant inventory turnover. Forest Hills moves slower than higher-volume submarkets; expect 30-60 days on market for well-priced inventory and longer for stretches.