Madison

Twelve miles northeast of downtown Nashville, Heron Walk is a residential neighborhood in the suburb of Madison. It's sought after for its affordability relative to other Nashville neighborhoods, as well as its proximity to shopping and dining centers and major thoroughfares that connect to the city. The Cumberland River borders the neighborhood to the south, creating a row of especially coveted riverside real estate. Gallatin Pike to the west quickly connects to Interstate 31 to take residents into town. "This area has all the major goods and services of the urban base, but it's still affordable," says Realtor Karen Hoff. "You're on major traffic circles, which makes it super easy to get north, south, west and east of town in minutes." Restaurants and grocery stores up and down Gallatin Pike make food access easy, and the Madison Community Center, just to the north, provides recreational programming for kids and adults alike. Heron Walk has public, private and charter schools in the neighborhood, providing plenty of education options for neighborhood families. Heron Walk has ranch-style homes, bungalows and new traditional homes on quarter- to half-acre lots. Depending on lot size and location within the neighborhood, some areas have a suburban feel, while others feel more rural. The neighborhood's priciest homes line the Cumberland River, with home values as high as $700,000 to $800,000, but the rest of the neighborhood's home values typically fall between $250,000 and $450,000. As Madison continues to grow, Heron Walk has seen an increase in development, specifically in new traditional townhouses and single-family homes built since 2020. "This is one of the first neighborhoods in Madison that's very modern looking," Hoff says. Despite increased demand, prices in Heron Walk are still significantly lower than in other parts of Nashville, with an average home value over $100,000 less than the average for the metro area. Heron Walk's assigned elementary school is Neely's Bend Elementary, located on the neighborhood's east end. This K-8 school is a world cultures and international arts magnet with a C rating on Niche. It offers 1:1 technology for every student and before- and after-school programs hosted by the YMCA. Sixth graders can opt to attend Madison Middle School, which has an A on Niche and ranks on the site as the best public middle school in Madison County. Madison Middle School is an international arts magnet offering STEM, AP and high school credit courses. For high school, students attend Hunters Lane High, which has a C-minus on Niche. Hunters Lane High has four academies to help students focus on their interests. All students are in the Freshman Academy before deciding between the Academy of Design & Technology; the Academy of Hospitality, Marketing and Business; and the Academy of International Baccalaureate, Health and Human Services. The neighborhood is also home to two charter schools - Smithson Craighead Academy, a K-5 school with a C on Niche, and LEAD Neely's Bend, a 5-8 school with a C-minus – and Madison Academy, a PK-12 Seventh-day Adventist school with an A-minus on Niche. Heron Walk is a car-dependent neighborhood in the suburb of Madison, 12 miles northeast of downtown Nashville. Commuters can take U.S. Route 31 East or Interstate 65 to get into the city. The neighborhood has a WeGo Public Transit bus stop, but it takes over an hour to get into the city. The closest hospital to Heron Walk is the TriStar Skyline Medical Center, 6 miles west. The Nashville International Airport is 14 miles south. Just across Old Hickory Boulevard from Heron Walk, Madison Park is a community gathering spot with a basketball court, playground, tennis courts and paved walking paths. The park is home to the Madison Community Center, which offers a variety of programming for kids and adults. The community center has a free daily after-school program for kids ages 6 through 14, as well as a youth summer enrichment program and sports teams. Adults can take exercise classes like ZUMBA, line dancing and boot camp and sign up for sports leagues. Heron Walk has a pond in the center of the neighborhood called Hospital Pond; residents head there for picnics and walks along the waterside path. The Cumberland River meanders along the eastern portion of Heron Walk, offering opportunities for kayaking, paddle boating and fishing with a steady supply of trout and bass. For indoor fun, locals drive 5 miles west to Eastside Bowl, a retro bowling alley with an arcade and diner. Gallatin Pike borders the west side of Heron Walk, and along this thoroughfare, residents can find various chain restaurants and retailers alongside local establishments. "Shopping is not a problem here. Every store you want is at your fingertips," says Hoff. There's a Kroger, Walmart and ALDI for groceries, or residents can pick up produce from The Madison Farm, a 1-acre sustainable farm in the neighborhood. Five miles north, endless retail shopping can be found at the RiverGate Mall, which has about 80 shops and restaurants. Restaurants along Gallatin Pike include Hibachi's Buffet, serving all-you-can-eat Chinese and Mongolian food; Tacos y Mariscos Lindo Mexico, a Mexican restaurant adorned with colorful murals inside and out; and McGaugh's Donuts, a no-frills donut shop that also serves apple fritters and bear claws. Gallatin Pike's fast-food restaurants include McDonald's, Taco Bell and Bojangles. Residents don't have to drive downtown for live music; Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge is a '70s-themed bar in the neighborhood with a jukebox, pool tables and live music most nights of the week. Heron Walk has a 5 out of 10 CAP Index crime score, just above the national average of 4.