Some of Nashville’s fastest-changing neighborhoods were, not long ago, places people worked rather than lived. Rail yards, warehouses and small factories defined The Nations, Wedgewood-Houston and Germantown for much of the twentieth century. Today they are three of the city’s most popular places to rent, and together they hold 59 of the 232 apartment buildings in this directory.
Short answer: The Nations / Sylvan Park (28 buildings) is the largest of the three, a west-side neighborhood with a village feel and a mix of new apartment communities and older homes. Germantown / Salemtown (17) is a historic district just north of downtown, near the Farmers’ Market and the Nashville Sounds’ ballpark. Wedgewood-Houston (14) is a gallery and maker district south of downtown, home to GEODIS Park, where Nashville SC plays.
At a glance
| The Nations / Sylvan Park | Germantown / Salemtown | Wedgewood-Houston | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings in this directory | 28 | 17 | 14 |
| Location | West Nashville, off Charlotte Pike and I-40 | Just north of downtown | Just south of downtown |
| Anchors | 51st Avenue shops and restaurants, Richland Creek Greenway nearby | Nashville Farmers’ Market, Bicentennial Capitol Mall, First Horizon Park | GEODIS Park, the Fairgrounds, art galleries and studios |
| Feel | Neighborhood, residential | Historic brick streets, restaurant row | Creative, industrial, still evolving |
The Nations / Sylvan Park
The Nations grew up around rail and industry on Nashville’s west side, and its old water tower is still a landmark. Over the past fifteen years it has filled in with apartment communities, townhomes and local businesses along 51st Avenue, while neighboring Sylvan Park keeps its tree-lined streets of older houses. With 28 buildings, it offers the widest selection of the three, and its location near I-40 makes it practical for commuters heading downtown or west.
Germantown / Salemtown
Germantown is one of Nashville’s oldest neighborhoods, with nineteenth-century brick houses and churches alongside newer apartment buildings. Its restaurant scene is one of the city’s best. The Nashville Farmers’ Market and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park are at its southern edge, and First Horizon Park, home of the Nashville Sounds, is right next door. Downtown is a short walk or bike ride away.
Wedgewood-Houston
Wedgewood-Houston, often called WeHo, sits south of downtown near the Fairgrounds Nashville. Former warehouses hold galleries, studios, breweries and restaurants, and GEODIS Park, the soccer stadium that opened in 2022, brings big crowds on match days. With 14 buildings it is the smallest of the three in this directory, and it is still changing quickly, so expect active construction nearby.
Which one fits
- Most choice and a residential feel: The Nations.
- History, food and a walk downtown: Germantown.
- Art, soccer and a neighborhood still in progress: Wedgewood-Houston.
All three are car-oriented compared with the urban core, so ask about parking and bike storage. Browse each neighborhood from the links above and compare buildings by year built and floor count.