Living in Forest Hills, TN: A Luxury Neighborhood Guide

Forest Hills is easy to drive through without realizing you've left Nashville. There's no dramatic sign, no toll booth — just larger lots, steeper wooded terrain, and noticeably fewer sidewalks. That last part isn't an oversight. Forest Hills has spent decades deliberately protecting its rural, large-lot character, and it remains its own incorporated city because of it.

This guide is for buyers weighing Forest Hills against neighbors like Belle Meade, Oak Hill, or Green Hills — what actually sets it apart, what it costs, and what day-to-day life looks like on its wooded acreage.

Key takeaways

• Forest Hills is a separately incorporated city within Davidson County, covering 9.3 square miles across zip codes 37027, 37215, and 37220.
• Most homes sit on 1-2 acre parcels across steep, wooded terrain — the city's zoning has protected this large-lot character since incorporation.
• Median household income runs about $250,000, and median property value sits near $1.41 million, up sharply year over year.
• Very few homes trade here in a given year, so pricing swings based on which specific estates happen to be listed.

What Makes Forest Hills Different

Forest Hills incorporated as its own city under a general law manager-commission charter, and when Nashville and Davidson County consolidated their governments in 1963, it chose to remain an independent "satellite city" rather than merge in fully. It's bordered by Old Hickory Boulevard to the south, Granny White Pike to the east, Harding Place to the north, and Chickering Road near Belle Meade to the west — 9.3 square miles in total.

The defining feature is lot size: most homes sit on one to two acres across the city's steep, wooded hills, with much of the original forest still intact from before early-20th-century development arrived. Forest Hills maintains its own covenants governing land size and use, which is precisely why it has avoided the sidewalks and denser infill common in closer-in Nashville neighborhoods.

As of 2024, the city's population sits at about 4,683, with a median age of 49.2 and a homeownership rate near 97%, according to DataUSA's Census-based profile — a picture of a stable, long-tenured community rather than one with high turnover.

Home Prices in Forest Hills

Current market data shows a median sale price around $2,075,000 and a median list price near $1,900,000, with homes averaging about $330 per square foot. But context matters here: only one home sold in the trailing 12 months according to recent listing data, and current inventory shows roughly 12 months of supply — both signs of just how few Forest Hills properties change hands in a given year.

Separately, DataUSA's broader property-value estimate puts the median home value at $1.41 million, up 23.7% year over year — a figure reflecting the fuller range of homes across the city, not just what's currently listed. As with other ultra-low-turnover luxury markets, pricing here depends heavily on which specific estates happen to be for sale at any given time, more than it reflects a stable "going rate."

Lifestyle

Forest Hills trades proximity to retail for privacy and land. It borders Belle Meade to the west and sits close to Green Hills and Oak Hill, so residents are minutes from established shopping and dining without living inside a denser commercial corridor themselves. The city's own historic estates — including Longleat, a 1932 country property, and the 1798 McCrory-Mayfield House — reflect just how long large landholdings have defined the area.

Average commute time runs about 18.2 minutes, with the large majority of residents driving alone, per DataUSA — consistent with a community built around private acreage rather than walkability.

Schools

Forest Hills falls within Metro Nashville Public Schools, with Percy Priest Elementary and Julia Green Elementary both commonly serving the area depending on address. Private options are also well represented nearby, including Harpeth Hall School, Saint Henry School, and St. Paul Christian Academy. Because zone lines vary by street, we confirm the exact public school assignment — including middle and high school — for any address a buyer is seriously considering.

Featured Questions

Is Forest Hills part of Nashville?

Not entirely. Forest Hills is a separately incorporated city within Davidson County that chose to remain independent when Nashville and Davidson County's governments consolidated in 1963. It has its own charter and mayor, even though it sits inside the county alongside Nashville.

How much do homes cost in Forest Hills, TN?

Current listing data shows a median sale price around $2,075,000 and median list price near $1,900,000, though only about one home sold in the past 12 months. DataUSA's broader estimate puts the city's median property value at $1.41 million.

FAQ

What is Forest Hills, Tennessee known for? Forest Hills is known for its 1-2 acre wooded lots, historic estates like Longleat, and its status as one of Davidson County's independent "satellite cities" that protects large-lot, low-density zoning.

Why does Forest Hills have so few home sales? Very low turnover is typical here — residents tend to stay long-term, and the supply of large, private lots is naturally limited across the city's 9.3 square miles.

Is Forest Hills a good place to live? For buyers who want privacy, acreage, and mature wooded terrain within minutes of Belle Meade and Green Hills, Forest Hills is consistently one of the more appealing close-in options — though homes here rarely come up for sale.

Why work with a specialist for a Forest Hills purchase? With so few annual transactions, pricing accurately takes access to comparable sales and relationships beyond the public MLS — something a Nashville luxury specialist tracks closely.

Next Steps

1. Clarify your priorities around lot size and privacy — Forest Hills offers more acreage than most close-in Nashville neighborhoods.
2. Ask about off-market opportunities, since so few Forest Hills estates hit public listing sites in a given year.
3. Confirm school zoning for any specific address, given how MNPS zones vary street to street.
4. Get financing pre-arranged early, since estate-level purchases often move on relationship and timing as much as price.
5. Talk to an agent who tracks Forest Hills specifically — sales here are too sparse for standard market tools to price accurately.

The Bottom Line

Forest Hills has protected its wooded, large-lot character since before Nashville and Davidson County even merged their governments — and that choice still defines the city today. For buyers who want acreage and privacy without leaving Nashville's inner ring, it remains one of the more distinctive addresses in Middle Tennessee, even with a market that moves on its own, unhurried terms.

If you're weighing Forest Hills against Belle Meade, Oak Hill, or Green Hills, Morrell Property Collective can walk you through current and off-market opportunities and how the neighborhoods actually compare. Reach out at (615) 593-3103 to talk through what you're looking for.