Suburban Spotlight: Brentwood

When considering Nashville suburbs, there’s one name that always comes to mind first, Brentwood. Located in Williamson County with an estimated population over 40,000, Brentwood is actually its own city, although it’s a mere 15-20 minutes from the heart of Downtown Nashville.

With deep roots in the state’s earliest settlements, Brentwood survived through the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution. The city truly became what it is today in the 1960s when Interstate 65 cut through the area, and the area was incorporated in 1969. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Maryland Farms office park was developed, and it still stands today as the apex of the area’s commercial culture. 

From there, the city has only expanded in terms of geographical and cultural reach, but it remains true to its roots. With 90 percent residential zoned land and a standard of one dwelling unit per acre, Brentwood maintains its identity as a residential area. In this regard alone, Brentwood stands out from the increasing density of Nashville.

Local’s Guide

While a feature of many suburbs is the proliferation of chain retailers and restaurants, Brentwood offers much in the way of local commerce. To be sure, nobody is complaining about their close proximity to an REI, Chipotle, or Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, but it’s the vibrant local businesses that make the city what it is.

Nashville favorites like Burger Up, Juice Bar, and Five Daughters Bakery have ventured south to the delight of many Brentwood residents.

As for Brentwood originals, residents love the quality of Matteo’s Pizza, a takeout spot with an emphasis on their gluten-free crust options—a feature that many local pizzerias simply don’t offer. On slow Sunday mornings, residents can wander into The Perch. A self-described “trendy neighborhood creperie and coffee house/wine and tapas bar,” the Perch doesn’t disappoint with its cozy atmosphere. Decadent goods, robust coffee, and fine wine selections make for the perfect start to any day (or night). 

The Landscape

Brentwood is a spacious community where homes sprawl out among rolling hills and vasts swaths of forest and fields. The city’s 13 parks account for nearly 1,000 acres of greenspace and 20 miles of hiking, biking, and walking trials. From playgrounds and disc golf courses to tennis courts and expansive soccer fields, residents of every age and ability can find a place to enjoy the outdoors on the south side of town.

What It’s Like to Live Here

The size of Brentwood itself means that the price points within the city limits range from the highest of the high-end developments (like Hidden Valley Estates and The Governor’s Club where the median home prices are a $2 million and $1.1 million, respectively) to moderately upscale neighborhoods (like Mooreland Estates with a median home price in the low $300s).

One notable thing that each of the aforementioned communities has in common is a 10/10 school rating. Crockett Elementary, Brentwood Middle, Brentwood High, Ravenwood High School, and the Williamson County School District all acheive the highest possible rating from Great Schools. This metric reflects each school’s performance in areas like test scores, college readiness, student progress, and equity. Brentwood is often regarded as a place for families, and with scores like these, it comes as no surprise.

Homes

Compared to other Nashville neighborhoods and suburbs, Brentwood has largely remained immune to the proliferation of “tall and skinny” townhomes that have been popping up all over town for the last few years. Likely due to a combination of zoning and the mere fact that Brentwood was always designed as a residential community, the homes in this area are almost exclusively free-standing, single-family dwellings.

Also uncharacteristic of local trends, most Brentwood homes have expansive yards. As the area was almost entirely built before Nashville’s housing boom, there was simply more space and flexibility when it came to development.