Highland Gardens

FRANKLIN’S VINTAGE NEIGHBORHOOD OFF COLUMBIA PIKE IN 37064

Location and Daily Life in Highland Gardens

Highland Gardens sits off Columbia Pike in Franklin’s 37064 zip code, one of the oldest established residential areas in the city. The neighborhood places residents within walking distance or a very short drive of downtown Franklin’s Main Street, the Factory at Franklin, and the Saturday farmers market on the square. This is a rare combination in Williamson County: a walkable location at a price point that reflects the vintage character of the homes rather than new construction premiums.

Streets in Highland Gardens include Adams Street, Avondale Drive, Bel Aire Drive, Carolyn Avenue, Highland Avenue, Mercury Drive, and Sunset Drive. The neighborhood sits adjacent to the downtown Franklin core, giving residents immediate access to the arts, dining, and events that draw buyers from across Middle Tennessee.

Nearby subdivisions include Battle Ground Park, Battlefield, Benelli Park, Charlton Green, Downtown Franklin, Heath Place, Polk Place, Shadow Green Townhomes, School Manor, Sturbridge Pointe, Tap Root Hills, and Yorktown.

The Homes in Highland Gardens

Highland Gardens is one of Franklin’s most varied neighborhoods in terms of housing stock. Original homes date to the late 1940s and 1950s, when the subdivision was first developed as part of post-war residential growth along Columbia Pike. The result is a community where mid-century cottages and bungalows sit alongside significantly larger, more recently constructed homes on the same streets.

Square footage ranges dramatically, from compact 768-square-foot cottages to newer 3,361-square-foot single-family homes. Bedroom counts run from two to five, and the price per square foot spread of $318 to $620 tells the story clearly: buyers pay a substantial premium per square foot for the original mid-century homes on sought-after streets like Carolyn Avenue and Adams Street, reflecting the value of the location and lot rather than the square footage itself.

There is no HOA in Highland Gardens, which is a meaningful differentiator in Williamson County. Buyers get the Centennial High School feeder zone and a walkable downtown Franklin location with no monthly assessment. For buyers who are weighing Highland Gardens against newer subdivisions with HOA fees, the math on total cost of ownership often favors this neighborhood significantly.

Highland Gardens Market Data

The following data reflects closed sales activity in Highland Gardens over the rolling 12-month period.

Data from RealTracs MLS. Rolling 12-month period.

Active Homes for Sale in Highland Gardens

Recently Sold Homes in Highland Gardens

Amenities

Highland Gardens does not have a private pool or clubhouse, but its location is the amenity. Jim Warren Park, one of Franklin’s best recreational facilities, is close by with athletic fields, walking trails, and open green space. The Harlinsdale Farm greenway provides additional trail access for walkers, runners, and cyclists without leaving the neighborhood area.

Downtown Franklin’s entire entertainment and dining corridor is effectively the neighborhood’s backyard. The Factory at Franklin hosts events year-round, the Saturday farmers market on the historic square draws the community together weekly, and the concentration of independent restaurants along Main Street and 5th Avenue South means residents rarely need to leave the area for a night out. For buyers who have been comparing this neighborhood to subdivisions with amenity centers, the trade is straightforward: no HOA, no amenity fee, and one of the most walkable downtown locations in all of Williamson County.

Schools

Highland Gardens is zoned for Williamson County Schools. Based on closed sales in the community, school assignments are consistent across most addresses:

Elementary: Franklin Elementary School. Middle: Freedom Middle School (Freedom Intermediate for some grade levels). High School: Centennial High School.

School zoning can vary by specific address. Always verify your assignment with Williamson County Schools before making a purchase decision. The existing post also noted Franklin High School as a potential assignment for some addresses, so confirming by street is worthwhile. Patrick can pull exact zoning for any property in the community.

Why Work with Nashville Home Guru?

Nashville Home Guru at Compass is the #1 team in Nashville and #7 in Tennessee by the Wall Street Journal’s RealTrends rankings, with 1,100+ transactions and $500M+ in career sales across Middle Tennessee. Patrick Higgins is a six-time RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent with 100+ Google Reviews and 87 Zillow Reviews who has been tracking the Franklin 37064 market at the street level since 2014.

In Highland Gardens specifically, Compass and affiliated agents represented 57.1% of all closed transactions over the past 12 months, with 4 of 7 sales involving a Compass agent on either the listing or buying side. That is one of the highest local market share figures among all established Franklin neighborhoods tracked by Nashville Home Guru, and it reflects genuine transaction volume rather than advertising claims.

Compass is the #1 residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume, and after merging with Parks Real Estate in 2024, Compass agents represent approximately 1 in 4 homes sold in Tennessee. That network translates directly into access to Compass Private Exclusives and coming-soon inventory that never appears on Zillow. In a low-inventory neighborhood like Highland Gardens, that pre-market access is often the difference between getting the home and missing it.

For sellers, the Compass 3-Phase Marketing Strategy consistently produces measurable results. Homes pre-marketed through Compass Private Exclusive and Coming Soon programs sell for 2.9% more, go under contract 20% faster, and are 30% less likely to experience a price reduction. On a median Highland Gardens home at $825,000, that 2.9% represents roughly $23,900 in additional proceeds. Learn more about selling your home on your terms.

For buyers navigating a market where homes range from $450,000 cottages to $1.15 million new builds on the same street, Patrick’s granular per-address knowledge is what separates an informed offer from a guess. To explore Franklin more broadly, visit our best Franklin TN listing agent page covering 1,100+ sales across the market.

Frequently Asked Questions About Highland Gardens

Who typically buys in Highland Gardens Franklin TN?

Highland Gardens attracts two distinct buyer profiles. The first is the downtown Franklin lifestyle buyer: someone who wants to walk to restaurants, the farmers market, and local events without paying new construction prices. The second is the value-oriented buyer who recognizes that no-HOA, Centennial High School zoning, and a walkable Columbia Pike address at a $450,000 to $825,000 entry price is extremely difficult to replicate anywhere else in Williamson County. Buyers looking for resort amenities or turnkey new construction typically look elsewhere, but those who prioritize location and character over square footage find Highland Gardens compelling.

What are home prices in Highland Gardens?

Closed sales over the past 12 months ranged from $450,000 to $1,150,000, with a median of $825,000 and an average of $836,429. Price per square foot ran from $318 to $620. The wide spread reflects the community’s mix of original mid-century homes and newer, larger construction. A compact 1950s cottage on Carolyn Avenue can sell for more per square foot than a 3,361-square-foot newer build, because buyers are paying for the specific location and lot rather than the livable area. Data from RealTracs MLS, rolling 12-month period.

Does Highland Gardens have an HOA?

No. Highland Gardens has no homeowners association and no HOA fee. This is a meaningful financial advantage compared to many Williamson County communities in the same price range that carry monthly assessments of $50 to $200 or more. Buyers can factor that savings directly into their budget.

What schools serve Highland Gardens?

Highland Gardens is served by Williamson County Schools. Most addresses feed into Franklin Elementary, Freedom Middle School, and Centennial High School. Some addresses may be zoned for Franklin High School at the secondary level. Always verify your specific assignment with Williamson County Schools before purchasing, as zoning can vary by street address. Patrick can confirm the exact school for any property in the community.

When was Highland Gardens developed and what are the homes like?

Highland Gardens was primarily developed starting in the late 1940s and through the 1950s as part of post-war residential growth near downtown Franklin. Some newer homes have been built on existing lots in the decades since, with construction dates ranging from 1949 through 2018. The community has no uniform architectural standard, which gives each street a distinct character. Streets include Adams Street, Avondale Drive, Bel Aire Drive, Carolyn Avenue, Highland Avenue, Mercury Drive, and Sunset Drive.

Why should I work with Nashville Home Guru to buy or sell in Highland Gardens?

Nashville Home Guru tracks every closed sale in Highland Gardens using direct RealTracs MLS data. In a neighborhood where a 768-square-foot cottage and a 3,361-square-foot home can both sell within the same 12-month window, knowing exactly which addresses command a premium per square foot and why is not optional knowledge for a negotiation. Compass-affiliated agents were involved in 57.1% of all Highland Gardens closings over the past 12 months, which is among the highest local market share figures in Franklin’s established 37064 neighborhoods and reflects real connections to the buyer pool most likely to purchase here.

Who is the best realtor for Highland Gardens in Franklin TN?

Patrick Higgins of Nashville Home Guru at Compass is a six-time RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent with 100+ Google Reviews and 87 Zillow Reviews, leading the WSJ-ranked #1 team in Nashville. His Compass market share in Highland Gardens of 57.1% over the past 12 months is not a marketing number, it is a transaction count pulled directly from RealTracs MLS. For buyers and sellers navigating a neighborhood with this much price variance by property type, that data depth is the difference between a well-timed decision and an expensive mistake. See the full track record at our best Franklin TN listing agent guide.

Are there off-market homes available in Highland Gardens?

Yes, periodically. Highland Gardens is the kind of established neighborhood where homeowners sometimes prefer a quiet sale rather than a public listing. As part of the Compass network, Nashville Home Guru has access to Compass Private Exclusives and coming-soon listings before they appear on Zillow. With only 7 closed sales in the past 12 months, any pre-market opportunity here is genuinely meaningful. Call or text 615-682-1718 to get on the pre-market buyer list.

What is my Highland Gardens home worth?

Highland Gardens has more price variance per square foot than almost any established Franklin neighborhood, ranging from $318 to $620 per square foot in the past 12 months. That spread means automated estimates are particularly unreliable here. The value of your specific home depends heavily on street location, lot size, condition, and whether it is an original mid-century home or newer construction. Get a starting estimate below, then call Patrick at 615-682-1718 for an analysis grounded in actual comparable sales on your street.

I own a home in Highland Gardens and I am thinking about selling. What should I know first?

The most important thing to understand before pricing a Highland Gardens home is that the neighborhood’s price variance is extreme relative to its size. A home that closed at $620 per square foot and one that closed at $318 per square foot are both in this community from the past 12 months. Overpricing by even 10% puts you in no-man’s land, where a buyer comparing your home to a newer build elsewhere will see a worse value proposition on paper. The Compass 3-Phase process is specifically designed to let you test your price privately before going public, so you get honest market feedback without the public days-on-market clock starting. On a $825,000 median home, 2.9% more at close is roughly $23,900. Call Patrick at 615-682-1718 before you set a price.

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