Affluent Nashville suburb with solid schools and close-knit community
Before its incorporation as a city in 1969, Brentwood was a rural village that boasted no more than a handful of small family restaurants. The city has since transformed into an affluent bedroom community and one of the Nashville metro’s most sought-after suburbs. In 2023, personal finance company WalletHub ranked Brentwood as the third-best small city in the United States.
Major roadways like Interstate 65 and expanding office spaces have helped Brentwood’s growth since the 1970s. It now mainly consists of upscale housing communities and a few shopping centers dense with popular chain brands. The city’s population stood at roughly 3,400 at the time of its incorporation in the late '60s but has now grown to about 45,400.
One of the city’s biggest draws is the local school system. “The public schools are very highly rated and it's known to be a desirable school district for academics and sports,” says Tyler Henson, a Realtor with Keller Williams, who’s made several sales in the area.
Brentwood also remains a close-knit community, as shown through local church attendance and annual neighborhood holiday gatherings. “It has that sort of — and this might sound cheesy — but that sort of Frank Capra-esque small-town feel,” says Charles Booth, the city’s director of community relations, and former journalist. “Everyone’s supportive of each other, the community and the city. The police department is regularly overloaded with cookies and treats from residents.”
You will find large homes on golf courses in the Brentwood Neighborhood.
I-65 is a major highway that runs North to Nashville and South to Franklin in Brentwood.
Ravenwood High School has a football field.
Brentwood is home to Brentwood Baptist church.
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Upscale ramblers and contemporary Traditionals
All but about 10% of the city’s land is zoned for housing, and the city has a policy generally requiring homes to go on at least 1-acre lots. The policy has helped Brentwood maintain some of its traditional rural character. Builders can allocate less than an acre per home, but the leftover space must otherwise be incorporated into the subdivision. While many houses in Brentwood do occupy less than an acre, multi-acre properties are not uncommon.
Large ramblers from the 1970s and opulent contemporary homes occupy the middle of the city. Katerina Kazakos Tate, a Realtor with Benchmark Realty LLC, says the contemporary homes can "Jump up over the $2 million mark. Sometimes even higher than that, and then it really depends on the lots. But typically, you’ll have huge estates in the heart of Brentwood.” The city’s Meadow Lake neighborhood exemplifies the mix of decades-old ramblers and new homes. “You can drive through Meadow Lake, and I bet there are 25 to 30 houses that are over $3 million sitting next door to 1970 ranch-styles,” says Bobby Hite, a broker with the Bobby Hite Co., who lives in Brentwood. “It’s a very affluent area. Some people prefer the newer homes, and some people would rather have the acre lot and trees and do their own renovations.”
Suburban subdivisions with contemporary Traditionals exist across the remainder of the city and single-family homes can go from $700,000 to around $5 million. Brentwood also has communities of townhouses that cost between $350,000 and $500,000. With a median price of $1.3 million, Brentwood is one of the most expensive areas in which to buy a home in Middle Tennessee. By contrast, the Nashville area’s median price is $490,000.
Newer large homes are available in Brentwood.
Large two story homes are present in Brentwood.
Rows of homes in lush green neighborhoods are present in Brentwood.
There are larger homes with lush landscaping in the Brentwood Neighborhood.
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Served by the No. 1 ranked school district in Nashville metro
Williamson County Schools serve Brentwood and receive an overall A grade from the ratings site Niche. The site also ranks the system as the best school district in the Nashville area and the third best in the state. Notable schools include Brentwood and Ravenwood high schools, which both receive A-plus grades from Niche and rival each other academically and athletically. Brentwood High is one of the few schools in Tennessee with its own television station. All of the schools in Brentwood receive at least an A from Niche.
The city of Brentwood also invests more than $230,000 each year into the schools for enhancements in technology and other areas.
Ravenwood High School has a football field.
Brentwood Middle School is a part of the Williamson County School District.
Brentwood High School has an overall Niche rating of A.
Jordan Elementary School is located in Brentwood.
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CoolSprings shopping area and staples in Uncle Julio’s and Puffy Muffin
Brentwood’s shopping district has grown over the past decade. Residents can head to retail centers along U.S. Route 31 and Old Hickory Boulevard for department stores, popular chain grocers, bakeries and casual restaurants.
Popular local staples include Uncle Julio’s, which serves Tex-Mex cuisine. There’s also the often-packed Puffy Muffin Bakery & Restaurant for desserts or pastries. “The owners are kind of hands-on. They know everybody’s name and people know them,” Hite says. “Sometimes, I’ll walk in and it’s a 40-minute wait.”
Locals have even more options at the CoolSprings shopping area on the city’s southern border. Shoppers from Brentwood and Franklin can visit the Galleria indoor mall or one of the smaller outdoor shopping centers surrounding the mall. The area has many sit-down restaurants and bars, some with live music.
Locals from all around visit The Puffy Muffin for breakfast and lunch in Brentwood.
The Coolsprings mall is a great place for shopping and dinner in the Brentwood neighborhood
Uncle Julios is a Brentwood locals hot spot.
There are several shops for basic necessities in the Brentwood neighborhood.
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Nature sanctuaries and Crockett Park
Brentwood residents can access rural open spaces, miles of forested walking trails and community parks. Local institutions like the Deerwood Arboretum and Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary offer hiking trails and educational information about the region’s diverse flora and fauna. One of the most popular community spaces, Crockett Park has indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a playground and an amphitheater.
The city also sits on the edge of Radnor Lake State Park, one of the Nashville metro’s outdoor destinations. This over 1,300-acre park is home to various wildlife and nearly 8 miles of trails around its eponymous lake.
Brentwood is also in the planning stages of opening a new park in the city's northern section. Windy Hill Park will have open fields and walking trails converted from land long-farmed by a local Brentwood family. The park is part of a long-term plan to preserve open spaces for recreation in anticipation of further development.
Residents surrounding Radnor Lake State Park love to stroll along the trails near Oak Hill.
There are several holes of Disc Golf at Crockett Park.
Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary has hiking trails and an educational center.
Deerwood arboretum has walking trails and hundreds of species of trees located in Brentwood.
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Red, White and Boom and BrentFest celebrations
In addition to its outdoor recreation, Crockett Park hosts a lineup of community festivities throughout the year. Major events include the 'Red, White and Boom July 4 Celebration,' which attracts more than 10,000 people each year and features live music at the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater and a fireworks show. There’s also BrentFest, the community’s signature summertime festival. The event features live music, food trucks, a beer garden and a Kids Fun Zone.
Brentwood also has a strong church-going community, with many attending the Brentwood Baptist and United Methodist churches. “That’s another big thing,” says Tate, who adds that one of her friends is a pastor at the Methodist church. “It’s massive. They have to have three services on a Sunday, and that’s right there in the heart of Brentwood.”
Headquarters of Tractor Supply Co. and I-65 commute to Nashville
UnitedHealthcare has a corporate office in Brentwood. With more than 2,000 employees, the Minnesota-based health insurance giant is the city’s largest employer. Brentwood also serves as the headquarters of the Tractor Supply Co., a national chain of home improvement, ranching and gardening supplies. With more than 20,000 employees working in its complexes, Brentwood has one of the largest shares of office space in the entire Nashville metro.
Brentwood has no public transit system, and many residents use cars to get around the city and commute to work. Interstate 65 connects the suburb to downtown Nashville, about 10 miles north. Other routes to Nashville include Granny White Pike and Hillsboro Road.
Brentwood is about 13 miles from the Nashville International Airport, making it convenient for out-of-state flights.
Important to know
Brentwood’s crime rates are well below the national averages. In 2023, the city had a violent crime rate of 3 per 1,000 people, well under the national average of 13 per 1,000. During the same year, the financial website SmartAsset ranked Brentwood as the 16th safest suburb in the country. The city ranked higher than any other Tennessee suburb.
Brentwood is part of Middle Tennessee and the Nashville metro area, which experiences four true seasons. However, the transition periods between winter and summer vary each year. The region experiences mild winters and warm summers with high humidity levels. The area can experience at least one snowfall or ice event a year, and extreme weather events like straight-line winds and tornadoes typically occur during the spring and late fall. The area averages an annual high of 71 degrees, several points above the national average.
Serving in the real estate business since 1983. I graduated from Cannon County High School in 1983 and from Middle Tennessee State University in 1990 with a degree in business administration. I have extensive experience in residential sales, investment properties, commercial real estate and development of farms and land. I have received the designation of Certified Negotiation Expert and I also am an auctioneer with Bob Parks Auction, LLC. My wife, Christy and I, have two girls, Katie and Kristen.
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