Davidson County, Tennessee Eviction Risk: Low

Davidson County carries an average eviction-risk score of 3.8/10 (Low) across its 6 incorporated places, placing it 2nd out of 94 counties in Tennessee for risk, meaning only one county in the state scores higher. With a renter share of 46.8% and an average rent of $1,606, this is a deeply rental-dependent market where landlord-tenant friction is an operating reality rather than an edge case. Understanding exactly where within the county you own or plan to acquire matters enormously, because the spread between the safest and riskiest localities here is not trivial.

The intra-county score range runs from 3.8/10 at the low end to 3.8/10 at the high end, a 1.3-point gap that translates to meaningfully different vacancy risk, tenant-quality dynamics, and collection exposure. Investors comparing Davidson County to surrounding Tennessee markets should note that neighboring Sumner County scores 3.8/10 and Wilson County scores 3.8/10, making those suburbs noticeably more landlord-favorable, while Shelby County at 3.8/10 runs slightly hotter than Davidson overall.

The cities inside Davidson County

At the top of the risk ladder, Berry Hill scores 5.9/10 with a population of 1,980 and Goodlettsville scores 4.1/10 with 17,597 residents. Both markets show elevated indicators relative to the county average, and landlords in either jurisdiction should budget for a longer eviction timeline and tighter rent-collection management. Neither city offers the lower-risk operating environment that some Davidson County submarkets do.

By contrast, Forest Hills posts the county's lowest score at 3.2/10 with a population of 4,683, and Oak Hill and Belle Meade each land at 3.8/10. The broad Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) area, encompassing the bulk of the county's 690,130 residents, sits at the county average of 3.8/10. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord in Forest Hills operates in a materially different environment than one a few miles away in Berry Hill, even though both fall inside the same county line.

State-level laws that apply here

Tennessee state law governs the eviction timeline under T.C.A. § 66-28 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Because Davidson County's population exceeds 75,000, the URLTA framework applies, meaning landlords must issue a 7-day notice for nonpayment of rent (TCA § 66-28-505 as amended by SB-1088) and a 14-day notice for a material breach. Non-curable breaches carry a 3-day notice under TCA § 66-28-517. Once filed, an uncontested case resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested case can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Understanding the full Tennessee eviction process is essential before making acquisition decisions in any part of this county.

On costs, landlords should plan for a court filing fee of $200 to $300, a sheriff lockout fee of $40 to $150, and attorney fees of $500 to $2,500 if counsel is retained. For a full breakdown of what those components add up to in different scenarios, see the Tennessee eviction costs guide. Importantly, Tennessee state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, and no just-cause requirement exists for terminating a tenancy, both landlord-favorable structural features that partially offset the county's elevated risk ranking.

With a poverty rate of 13.9% and nearly half of all households renting, Davidson County's underlying economics keep baseline eviction pressure elevated, making the city-by-city score grid above the most actionable starting point for portfolio decisions.