Oak Hill

NASHVILLE’S STRICTLY RESIDENTIAL INCORPORATED CITY

Not a Neighborhood. A City.

Oak Hill is one of Nashville’s six satellite cities, and like its neighbors Belle Meade and Forest Hills, it operates with its own municipal government while remaining part of the broader Nashville metropolitan area. Incorporated in 1952 to preserve its residential character before Nashville and Davidson County merged their governments, Oak Hill has maintained strict single-family zoning for over 70 years.

The distinction matters for buyers. Oak Hill isn’t just a neighborhood with covenants and an HOA. It’s a legally incorporated city with its own planning commission, board of zoning appeals, codes department, and elected commissioners who select the mayor. The city’s mission is explicitly stated: to preserve its natural resources and residential environment while providing enhanced services to citizens.

What does “strictly residential” mean in practice? Oak Hill zoning permits only single-family dwellings, churches, and schools (the latter two requiring conditional use permits and minimum acreage of 6.42 acres). No businesses. No commercial establishments. No multi-family housing. The Tennessee Governor’s Residence sits within city limits, but that’s about as close to a commercial operation as Oak Hill gets.

Location and Daily Life

Oak Hill spans approximately 8 square miles in southern Davidson County, bordered by 12 South and Green Hills to the north, Brentwood to the south, and Crieve Hall to the east. The western edge borders Forest Hills. Primary zip codes include 37220 and portions of 37204 and 37027.

Prominent streets in Oak Hill include Battery Lane, Blevins Drive, Evans Road, Franklin Pike, General Gates Drive, Lealand Lane, Overton Lea Road, and Rainbow Place. These tree-lined corridors wind through rolling hills, connecting estate properties that range from renovated mid-century ranches to newly built luxury homes.

The majority of Radnor Lake State Park falls within Oak Hill’s boundaries. This 1,368-acre nature preserve offers hiking trails, kayaking opportunities, and some of the best wildlife viewing within any major American city. For Oak Hill residents, access to Radnor is essentially in their backyard. Many properties are within walking or biking distance of trailheads.

While Oak Hill has no commercial establishments, residents are minutes from everything. The shops and restaurants of 12 South are a five-minute drive north. Green Hills, with the Mall at Green Hills and Whole Foods, sits just to the northwest. Brentwood’s shopping and dining options are equally close to the south. The city’s residential-only zoning ensures you never have commercial traffic cutting through your neighborhood, but you’re never far from what you need.

City Services: What Your Taxes Buy

Oak Hill residents pay property taxes to Davidson County, not to the City of Oak Hill directly. However, the city provides enhanced services funded through a share of state sales tax revenue and other sources. These services include:

Weekly backdoor trash and recycling pickup (not curbside, but actually at your back door), monthly chipper service for yard debris, street maintenance and paving, right-of-way maintenance, and a dedicated codes department that enforces the city’s strict zoning ordinances. The city also provides community planning oversight that Metro Nashville cannot match for individual neighborhoods.

For buyers relocating from cities where municipal services are inconsistent or overwhelmed, Oak Hill’s governance model offers a middle ground: the resources of a major metropolitan area combined with the responsive, accountable governance of a small town.

Building in Oak Hill: What Buyers Should Know

If you’re considering new construction or major renovation in Oak Hill, the city’s building process deserves attention. Oak Hill has its own codes department and requires permits for construction projects. All plans must be reviewed and approved by the city, and construction must be performed by Tennessee State licensed contractors with proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance.

The city conducts inspections at multiple stages: pre-development, foundation, framing, and insulation. MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) inspections must be completed before structural inspections can proceed. A Certificate of Use and Occupancy is required before a structure can be occupied.

Variances for setbacks, lot coverage, or other zoning requirements are granted based on hardship (hills, slopes, easements, large trees, existing construction), not convenience. The variance process requires a formal application, letter explaining why the proposed construction must violate ordinances, and review by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

This level of oversight protects property values by ensuring consistent standards across the city. It also means new construction in Oak Hill tends to be higher quality and more thoughtfully designed than speculative building elsewhere in Nashville.

The Homes

Oak Hill’s housing stock reflects the city’s 70+ year history. The majority of homes were built between 1950 and 1980, during Oak Hill’s post-war growth boom. Mid-century ranches and traditional brick colonials from this era dominate the landscape, many set on lots ranging from 1 to 2+ acres.

Recent years have seen significant new construction activity, with 9 homes built in the 2020s selling in the past year. These new builds range from renovated mid-century moderns to substantial new estate homes, typically priced from $2.5 million to $8+ million.

Notable Oak Hill subdivisions and areas include Oak Hill proper, Oak Hill Estates, Villa Estates, Inns of Granny White, Creighton Meadows, Lealand Manor (one of the most exclusive enclaves, with average prices exceeding $5 million), Forest Acres, Tremont, High Valley, Voce, and Gateway Acres.

Lot sizes typically range from 1 to 2 acres, with some properties exceeding 7 acres. The rolling topography creates private settings even on “smaller” lots. Many homes feature mature landscaping, established tree cover, and the kind of privacy that’s impossible to replicate in newer construction on smaller lots.

Oak Hill Market Data (Past 12 Months)

Metric	Value
Number of Closed Sales	64
Sale Price Range	$250,000 – $8,450,000
Median Sale Price	$1,687,500
Average Sale Price	$2,259,620
Median Price Per Square Foot	$425
Price Per Square Foot Range	$60 – $1,033
Square Footage Range	1,551 – 14,021 sq ft
Bedrooms	3 – 7
Bathrooms	1 – 8 full baths
Lot Sizes	0.5 – 7.3 acres (most 1-2 acres)
Year Built Range	1921 – 2025
Median Days on Market	12 days
Active Listings	20 (priced $749,000 – $6,500,000)

Data from RealTracs MLS. Updated January 2026.

Price Distribution

Price Range	Number of Sales	Percentage
Under $1,000,000	16	25%
$1,000,000 – $2,000,000	21	33%
$2,000,000 – $3,000,000	10	16%
$3,000,000 – $5,000,000	11	17%
$5,000,000+	6	9%

Active Homes for Sale in Oak Hill

Recently Sold Homes in Oak Hill

Schools

Oak Hill is served by Metro Nashville Public Schools, though the city itself contains two public schools within its boundaries.

Public Schools: Percy Priest Elementary School serves the majority of Oak Hill addresses, with Crieve Hall Elementary serving the eastern portion. Both feed into John Trotwood Moore Middle School. Hillsboro Comprehensive High School serves most of Oak Hill for grades 9-12, with John Overton Comprehensive High School serving addresses in the eastern portion of the city.

Private Schools: At Oak Hill’s price points, many families choose private education. The city offers convenient access to Nashville’s top private schools including University School of Nashville, Ensworth, Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA), Harpeth Hall, St. George’s Episcopal, Lipscomb Academy, and Brentwood Academy. Franklin Road Academy, a K-12 Christian school with Niche’s A rating, sits adjacent to Oak Hill.

Glendale Elementary School, located within Oak Hill, is Metro Nashville’s only Spanish immersion school, weaving Spanish into activities like math and science from kindergarten through fourth grade.

History: From Travellers Rest to Today

Oak Hill’s history extends to the 1790s when Judge John Overton established a horse-breeding farm known as Travellers Rest. The farm became renowned for producing excellent trotters and remained in operation for decades. The Travellers Rest plantation house still stands today as a historic site open for tours.

After World War II, Oak Hill experienced the same suburban growth as other Nashville areas. But unlike neighborhoods that were eventually absorbed into Metro Nashville, Oak Hill incorporated as an independent city in 1952. This decision, made just before Nashville and Davidson County consolidated their governments, allowed Oak Hill to maintain control over its zoning and residential character.

The Tennessee Governor’s Residence has been located in Oak Hill since 1949. Built in 1931, the Georgian-style mansion at 882 Curtiswood Lane South serves as the official residence of Tennessee’s governor and is open for guided tours.

Why Work with Nashville Home Guru?

In Oak Hill, Compass and Parks agents represented 50% of all home sales over the past 12 months, with 32 of 64 transactions involving a Compass agent on either the listing or buying side. That’s more than any other brokerage in this market, and it reflects the depth of relationships and market expertise that Compass agents bring to Nashville’s luxury satellite cities.

Patrick Higgins and the Nashville Home Guru team are part of this network. As a six-time RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent, ranked #1 team in Nashville and #7 in Tennessee by Wall Street Journal’s RealTrends, Patrick brings a data-driven approach to every transaction. The team has completed over 1,100 transactions representing more than $500 million in residential sales across Middle Tennessee.

Compass is the #1 residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. After merging with Parks Real Estate in 2024, Compass agents now represent approximately 1 in 4 homes sold in Tennessee. This means access to coming-soon listings, private exclusives, and the largest referral network in real estate.

For sellers, our Compass 3-Phase Marketing Strategy delivers 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 $1.7 million Oak Hill home, that 2.9% premium represents nearly $50,000 in additional proceeds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Hill

Is Oak Hill a neighborhood or a city?

Oak Hill is an incorporated city, not a neighborhood. It was incorporated in 1952 before Nashville and Davidson County merged their governments. Oak Hill has its own mayor, city commissioners, planning commission, board of zoning appeals, and codes department. The city’s strictly residential zoning is legally protected municipal law, not just neighborhood covenants.

What is the price range for homes in Oak Hill?

Based on the past 12 months of sales, homes in Oak Hill sold between $250,000 and $8,450,000, with a median sale price of $1,687,500. Entry-level opportunities exist for smaller homes or properties needing renovation, while luxury estates can exceed $5 million. About 25% of sales were under $1 million.

How large are lots in Oak Hill?

Most lots in Oak Hill range from 1 to 2 acres, though some properties exceed 7 acres. The rolling topography means even smaller lots often feel much larger due to the terrain and mature tree cover. Oak Hill’s zoning requires minimum lot sizes for single-family dwellings.

Can I build a new home in Oak Hill?

Yes, but the process is more rigorous than in Metro Nashville. Oak Hill has its own codes department that reviews all construction plans. All work must be performed by Tennessee State licensed contractors. The city conducts inspections at multiple stages, and variances are granted only for hardship (hills, slopes, easements), not convenience.

What schools serve Oak Hill?

Oak Hill is served by Metro Nashville Public Schools. Percy Priest Elementary and Crieve Hall Elementary serve different portions of the city, feeding into John Trotwood Moore Middle School. High schools include Hillsboro Comprehensive and John Overton Comprehensive. Many families at this price point choose private schools including USN, Ensworth, MBA, Harpeth Hall, Lipscomb Academy, and Brentwood Academy.

How does Oak Hill compare to Forest Hills and Belle Meade?

All three are incorporated satellite cities with independent governance and residential-only zoning. Oak Hill has a lower median price ($1.69M) than Forest Hills ($2.03M) and Belle Meade, making it more accessible for some buyers. Oak Hill offers direct access to Radnor Lake State Park. Belle Meade is the most established and prestigious, while Forest Hills tends to have hillier terrain and larger lots on average.

Does Oak Hill have an HOA?

Oak Hill as a city does not have an HOA. However, individual subdivisions within Oak Hill may have their own homeowners associations with separate dues and covenants. The city’s zoning ordinances apply to all properties regardless of subdivision HOA status.

What city services does Oak Hill provide?

Oak Hill provides weekly backdoor trash and recycling pickup, monthly chipper service for yard debris, street maintenance and paving, right-of-way maintenance, and a dedicated codes department. These services are funded through state sales tax revenue share, not a separate city property tax.

Who is the best real estate agent for Oak Hill?

Compass and Parks agents represented 50% of all Oak Hill home sales over the past 12 months. Patrick Higgins of Nashville Home Guru at Compass is a six-time RealTrends Top Tennessee Agent, ranked #1 team in Nashville, with deep expertise in Nashville’s satellite cities including Oak Hill, Forest Hills, and Belle Meade. Contact Patrick at 615-682-1718 for private showings and market insights.

Nearby Neighborhoods and Cities

If you’re exploring Oak Hill, you may also want to consider these nearby areas:

Forest Hills, Belle Meade, Green Hills, 12 South, Crieve Hall, Brentwood

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