Memphis Crime Scores Explained: What Shelby County Records Show
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · September 23, 2026
Shelby County incident rates show distinct geographic differences across eastern residential areas and central commercial districts. This breakdown explains Memphis crime scores through verified incident logs.
Memphis sits along the Mississippi River in southwestern Tennessee. Public safety data reported by the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff shows significant differences between the historic riverfront, midtown districts, and eastern residential subdivisions.
Shelby County crime ratings and ZIP scores
NeighborScore assesses crime data against Tennessee statewide averages. Law enforcement metrics draw from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, and school performance comes from the National Center for Education Statistics.
- River Oaks and East Memphis (38120): Scores 43 overall with a 25 crime score and a 63 school score. Median home price is $423,348 with median rent of $1,518.
- Bartlett Border and Northeast (38134): Scores 40 overall with a 25 crime score and a 56 school score. Median home price is $226,669 with median rent of $1,222.
- Colonial Acres and East Central (38117): Scores 39 overall with a 25 crime score and a 55 school score. Median home price is $268,148 with median rent of $1,483.
- Midtown and Cooper-Young (38104): Scores 39 overall with a 25 crime score and a 55 school score. Median home price is $254,236 with median rent of $1,285.
- Downtown Memphis (38103): Scores 37 overall with a 25 crime score and a 50 school score. Median property price sits at $322,167 with median rent of $1,533.
Law enforcement trends in Shelby County
Crime reports in Shelby County reflect concentration in retail centers and along major interstate spurs. Eastern residential communities farther from the core report lower incident density, which is consistent with U.S. Census Bureau population maps.
Researching Memphis neighborhoods
Movers can consult our analysis of metro ZIP codes ranked by crime or compare Memphis neighborhoods on our Memphis comparison tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Memphis ZIP code has the highest safety score?
East Memphis ZIP 38120 scores highest in the city with an overall score of 43, a 63 school score, and a median home price of $423,348.
What is the median home price in Midtown Memphis 38104?
Midtown ZIP 38104 features a median home price of $254,236 and a median monthly rent of $1,285.