Federal data for 2024 from the FBI shows that Nashville ranked 13th in the nation for violent crime, recording a rate of 1,124.1 incidents per 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, Memphis held the highest violent crime rate in the country, with 2,501 per 100,000 residents. These figures place Tennessee’s two major cities well above the national average of 359.1 per 100,000, even as national violent crime declined overall.
The Metro Nashville Police Department worked with WSMV4 to provide context and local perspective on the raw numbers. Their data shows a positive trend: in 2025 so far, violent crime in Nashville has dropped 12 percent overall. Fatal shootings have fallen more than 30 percent, robberies are down 25 percent, and aggravated assaults have decreased nearly 11 percent.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell responded to recent calls by some lawmakers to deploy the National Guard to Nashville. He made it clear that neither he, Nashville police, nor the police chief made any such request. The mayor emphasized the city’s focus on local crime reduction efforts and the importance of respecting the progress made so far, including continued year-over-year decreases in key violent crime categories.
Taken together, the data points underscore a complex picture. Nashville remains among the top cities nationwide for violent crime despite impressive local gains in 2025. The city continues to outperform its 2024 position in terms of reducing violence, yet still faces challenges compared to other U.S. cities.
