A friendly community bolstered by varying amenities
Agricultural fields and pockets of dense forest surround Milan, a rural hub between Nashville and Memphis. Much of the small city’s history intertwines with the Milan Army Ammunition Plant, responsible for fluctuations in the city’s population as 20th-century wars came and went. Today, the city of just over 8,000 credits its slow but continuous growth to its quiet nature backed by a hospitable locale. “The most important thing to know about Milan is that it’s a community that has each other's backs, whether you’ve lived here forever or are new,” says Shahera Mallard, Realtor with Hickman Realty Group and resident. “It has that small-town charm without being backward thinking."
Milan Army Ammunition Plant was opened in 1942 and occupies 22,357 acres in Milan.
Milan is a constantly developing town in western Tennessee.
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Milan One Table brings the community together
The city gathers every year for Milan One Table, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving. “They line up the long rectangle tables back-to-back down Main Street from the chamber to the post office,” Mallard says. “People from all different backgrounds come together and have a meal. Sometimes you feel like you’re living in a Hallmark movie.” The Milan Area Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Parade has been an annual staple for decades. The early December event hosts live music to accompany themed floats rolling through downtown.
Shop local along Main Street
For surrounding communities, Milan is a catch-all for most shopping and dining. “We have a Walmart and Lowe’s and are just now getting out first Starbucks,” Mallard says. “So, we are making our way up there.” Though the city welcomes larger big-box stores and chain restaurants, supporting locally owned eateries and boutiques is important to residents. “We try to rally around small businesses and keep our dollars in Milan,” Mallard says. For more robust shopping options, residents head south to peruse Jackson's shopping centers and malls.
Milan is home to Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken.
Walmart is one of the big box options with a location in Milan.
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Backroad cruising and the Milan Ritz
Milan City Park is the hub for outdoor recreation and neighbors the local YMCA and Milan Golf and Country Club. Driving around the city’s rural outskirts with friends is a popular pastime among locals during hot summers. “The youths here are always looking for a backroad to hit,” Mallard says. When cold winters roll in, residents can catch a screening at the Milan Ritz, a downtown fixture since 1941. “My husband and I went on Christmas Eve to watch a movie," Mallard says. "It was packed and I knew everyone in there. I told him we’re literally watching a movie with 30 of our closest friends."
Paved. walking paths can be found at Milan City Park.
The Ritz 3 is a historical cinema located on Main Street in Milan.
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From 20th-century homes to recently built subdivisions
The median price for a single-family home in Milan is $230,000, which falls below the national figure. Mature trees and quiet roads are common along Milan’s residential streets, where 20th-century homes dominate. “People love the older homes here,” Mallard says. “You see a lot of people buying and fixing them up.” Ranch styles appear most often, but other architectural designs of the era dot the city. Homebuyers will also find New Traditional-style homes within subdivisions built from 2000 onward, where prices reach up to $550,000.
Ranch style homes dot the landscape of Milan.
Milan is home to newly built homes in subdivisions.
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Commutes are a breeze within Milan
Van Hock and 1st streets function as the area’s main thoroughfares, connecting commuters from neighboring towns to Milan’s major employers in manufacturing, retail and education industries. Milan’s combination of rural backroads and the small grid in the small town-like city center foster convenient travel around the city. “You can get to the high school 15 different ways from my house,” Mallard says. Medical care is also close to home, as Milan General Hospital sits at the heart of the city. Those making trips into Jackson can hop on 1st Street for a 24-mile drive south.
Milan General Hospital is located in the heart of Milan.
Van Hook and 1st street is a major intersection in Milan.
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Milan Special School District enrolls the city
Milan Special School District serves approximately 2,000 students and holds a B-plus rating on Niche. Milan Endowment for Growth in Academics supports the district. The private community financial endowment funds student needs and opportunities that exceed specific school budgets. Those seeking higher education opportunities can enroll in community colleges in Jackson.
Milan Elementary is part of the Gibson County school district.
As of 2024, Milan Middle School had a student population of 579.
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Milan's tornado concerns and crime statistics
“The major thing you have to worry about here is tornados because we are in a hotspot,” Mallard says. The Federal Emergency Management Agency runs a Community Safe Room downtown for those without private shelters, and the city conducts regular siren tests. “You hear them every Saturday at noon,” Mallard shares.
According to FBI data, Milan’s property crime levels remained the same from 2022 to 2023, while violent crime increased slightly.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Nelson
Video By
Patrick Johnson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tina Andrade,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Milan, TN sell after 60 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Milan, TN over the last 12 months is $210,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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