Home
Old Hickory Guide

Buyer & Seller Guide  ·  Old Hickory, TN  ·  37138

Old Hickory

37138

Fifteen miles northeast of downtown Nashville, Old Hickory is the town DuPont built in 1918 — and one of the few Nashville-area communities that actually feels like a town. Walkable village core, lake access, deep community identity, and home prices that still make sense.

⚠️ Important: 37138 Crosses a County Line

The 37138 ZIP code spans both Davidson and Wilson counties. School assignments, property tax rates, and home values can differ significantly depending on which side of the line a specific address falls. Always verify the county by exact address before making an offer — do not assume from ZIP code alone.

At a Glance

Quick Snapshot

🏠

Home Prices

$280K – $800K+

Median ~$570K · Village bungalows from low $300s · Newer builds $550K–$800K+

⛵

Lifestyle

Lakeside & Historic

Walkable village core · Lake access · Farmers market · Golf · Deep community roots

🚗

Commute & Access

20–30 min

~20 min to downtown · ~15 min to BNA · Old Hickory Blvd to I-40 or I-65

❤️

Who Loves It Here

Families & Outdoor Enthusiasts

Families wanting space & community · Boaters · History-minded buyers · Value seekers priced out of the inner ring

Browse Homes Currently Listed in 37138

Updated daily. Every active listing in Old Hickory — from historic bungalows to lakefront homes and new construction.

View Old Hickory Listings →

Experience It

A Saturday in Old Hickory

You wake up in a 1920s-era bungalow on Hadley Avenue. The front porch looks much like it did when a DuPont foreman lived here. Here's how your day goes.

☕

Morning

Uncommon Grounds

On Jones Street, this is the neighborhood coffee shop in the truest sense. Regulars know each other by name. Breakfast, lattes, unhurried pace. It's the kind of place that could only exist in a community this size.

🌽

Mid-Morning

Village Farmers Market

April through September, every Tuesday. Producer-only: local farm produce, meat, eggs, artisan food, food trucks, live music. More community event than grocery run — held at the Second Missionary Baptist Church on Hadley Avenue.

⛵

Late Morning

Old Hickory Beach or Blue Turtle Bay

Old Hickory Beach on Burnett Road: boat ramp, grills, sandy shoreline, mature trees, playground. $5 per car in summer — basic and genuinely good. Blue Turtle Bay Marina is a mile south — rent a pontoon, dock for lunch at Sam's Sports Grill, and spend a few hours on the lake without owning a boat.

🥾

Afternoon

Crooked Branch Park

Hiking trail, lake views, and a beaver lodge that's easier to spot than most Davidson County wildlife. One of the more underrated greenspaces in the area. If golf is your thing, the Old Hickory Country Club runs two courses — Generals Retreat and Presidents Reserve — just off Golf Club Road.

🎨

Late Afternoon

Old Hickory Art Center

Housed in the former Hadley School building — built in 1935 to serve Black children in the neighborhood during segregation. Today it operates as an open studio and gallery: classes, work from local artists, and a quietly significant piece of the community's history on Robinson Road.

🍔

Dinner

Sam's Sports Grill or Flat Tire Diner

Sam's at Blue Turtle Bay is the lakefront anchor — dock up if you have a boat, or drive in for the views. Flat Tire Diner is the longtime local favorite for a no-fuss sit-down meal. Neither tries to be more than it is, which is exactly right for this neighborhood.

Explore

Neighborhood Explorer

Old Hickory covers a lot of ground — a walkable historic village, established subdivisions, lake-access communities, and new construction pockets. Here's how the pieces fit together.

📍 Historic Old Hickory Village · The original DuPont town $300K – $600K

Price Range

$300K – $600K

Best For

Walkability seekers, history buffs, community-oriented buyers

Landmarks

Hadley Ave, Old Hickory Library, Art Center, Farmers Market

The original planned community — bungalows ranging from modest worker cottages to larger management homes, most built between 1918 and the 1940s. Many are on the National Register of Historic Places. Wide sidewalks, mature trees, and a street grid that was designed for walking. The Village is undergoing steady renovation; the bones of these homes are genuinely good. This is where Old Hickory's identity lives.

📍 Lakewood & Lake-Access Communities · On or near the water $450K – $1.5M+

Price Range

$450K – $1.5M+

Best For

Boaters, lake lifestyle buyers, custom home seekers

Landmarks

Old Hickory Lake, Blue Turtle Bay Marina, Waterford, Brandywine

Old Hickory Lake is one of the few Nashville-area lakes where you can actually live on the water. Communities like Waterford, Brandywine Pointe (some units include boat slips), and the homes along Riverway Drive give buyers genuine lake access at prices that still undercut comparable Hendersonville waterfront by a meaningful margin. Mix of mid-century homes, custom builds, and larger newer construction. Note: many of these addresses fall in Wilson County — verify before buying.

📍 Brandywine, Langford Farms & Established Subdivisions · Suburban middle $380K – $650K

Price Range

$380K – $650K

Best For

Families, move-up buyers, space seekers

Landmarks

Brandywine Place, Langford Farms, Hickory Hills, Sherwood Forest

Traditional 1980s–2000s subdivisions with larger lots, more square footage, and the practical amenities (garages, bonus rooms, fenced yards) that families tend to need. Brandywine Place is one of the more walkable of these — some listings note proximity to community amenities as a draw. Langford Farms offers larger lots and a quiet cul-de-sac feel. Consistent demand from buyers who want Davidson County schools and addresses without the Hermitage or Madison price premium.

📍 Hadley Bend City & New Construction Pockets · Modern builds $450K – $800K+

Price Range

$450K – $800K+

Best For

New construction buyers, open-concept seekers, resale upside investors

Landmarks

Hadley Bend City, Canebrake at Hickory Hills, Village Green, River Landing

Active new construction is arriving in Old Hickory, primarily in the Hadley Bend City and Canebrake at Hickory Hills communities. Open-concept layouts, modern finishes, builder incentives currently in play. These communities sit at the eastern edge of the 37138 footprint — confirm county before buying, as some addresses fall in Wilson County. River Landing and Village Green are smaller infill communities closer to the lake offering a mix of styles.

📍 Townhomes & Attached Housing · Low maintenance, accessible price $270K – $430K

Price Range

$270K – $430K

Best For

First-time buyers, downsizers, investors

Landmarks

Hermitage Spring Townhomes, Rowhouses at Robinson Road, Beacon Hill

Old Hickory has a solid inventory of attached housing — townhomes and rowhouses that offer Davidson County addresses at prices meaningfully below the single-family market. Hermitage Spring Townhomes and the Rowhouses at Robinson Road are the most active. Good entry point for buyers who want the community and commute without the maintenance footprint of a detached home.

Local Culture

Lifestyle & Culture

🍽️

Restaurants Locals Use

Sam's Sports Grill at Blue Turtle Bay — The lakefront anchor. Dock up or drive in. Bar, grill, views of the marina. More neighborhood hangout than destination restaurant.

Flat Tire Diner — Consistently reliable, long-standing local favorite. Exactly what a neighborhood diner should be.

Grandaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack — Local, casual, worth knowing about if you haven't been.

☕

Coffee & Daily Stops

Uncommon Grounds OH Naz — The Village's own coffee shop on Jones Street. The community hub in its most literal form.

Old Hickory Social — Opened in 2024 in the old Rite Aid building on Robinson Road. Local vendors, vintage finds, handmade goods, eclectic market. A genuine addition to the retail landscape.

Village Farmers Market — April–September, Tuesdays. Producer-only, food trucks, live music. Worth building your schedule around in season.

🏃

Outdoors & Recreation

Old Hickory Beach — Public lake beach on Burnett Road with boat ramp, grills, playground. $5/car in summer. The most accessible lake day in Davidson County.

Crooked Branch Park — Hiking trail, lake views, nature. One of the area's more underappreciated parks.

Blue Turtle Bay Marina — Pontoon rentals. The on-ramp to Old Hickory Lake for people who don't own a boat yet.

Old Hickory Country Club — Two golf courses (Generals Retreat and Presidents Reserve) plus a pool and tennis.

🎨

Arts, History & Community

Old Hickory Art Center — Housed in the former Hadley School building (1935), which served Black children during segregation. Open studio, classes, local art for sale. The community's creative anchor.

Old Hickory Library — Built in 1937 by DuPont, Colonial Revival architecture with original oak furnishings. A functioning neighborhood library that looks and feels like one.

The Hermitage — Andrew Jackson's home is just to the south in Hermitage. One of Nashville's best museums, genuinely close for Old Hickory residents.

Market Data

Real Estate Market Overview

Old Hickory is a functioning buyer's market in 2026 — inventory is up, days on market are elevated, and sellers are negotiating. For buyers who want Davidson County addresses at reasonable prices, this is one of the better windows in years.

$

~$570K

Median List Price

📉

65

Avg. Days on Market

📐

$264

Avg. Price / Sq Ft

🏘️

210+

Active Listings

Metric 37138 Old Hickory Nashville Metro
Median List Price ~$570K ~$491K
Avg. Price / Sq Ft $264 ~$280–$300
Avg. Days on Market 65 ~55–65
County Davidson & Wilson (verify by address) Varies
Active Inventory 210+ listings Growing

For buyers: 65 days on market is real breathing room. Sellers are negotiating, builder incentives are active, and the $264/sqft average is competitive for Davidson County access. The county-line nuance is worth navigating carefully — the difference between a Davidson County and Wilson County address in this ZIP affects schools, taxes, and resale audience.

For sellers: Correctly priced homes are still selling. Overpriced listings are sitting — 65 days is the average, which means poorly positioned homes are pulling that number up significantly. Condition and pricing from day one matter here more than in tighter markets.

Ready to see what's available?

Search every home currently listed in Old Hickory — updated daily from the MLS.

Browse Old Hickory Listings →

Local Knowledge

Insider Insights

⚠️

County Line Is Real

37138 crosses Davidson and Wilson county lines. Schools, taxes, and resale dynamics differ. Always verify county by specific address — not ZIP — before making an offer.

🏛️

Historic Register Homes

Many Village homes are on the National Register of Historic Places. That designation has real implications — renovation projects may come with restrictions and/or incentives. Ask before you plan any major work.

🏫

Schools: Be Honest With Yourself

The Metro Nashville public schools here — DuPont Elementary, DuPont Hadley Middle, and McGavock High — have below-average academic proficiency ratings. Families prioritizing schools should look seriously at Davidson Christian Academy (nearby private option) or verify whether a Wilson County address opens better public school options.

⛵

The Lake Is the Value Proposition

Old Hickory Lake is navigable and livable — you can actually be on the water here. Waterfront and water-access homes undercut comparable Hendersonville prices. If lake access is on your list, Old Hickory deserves a serious look before you go further out.

🔨

Village Renovation Upside

The Village is mid-renovation cycle. Entry-level bungalows still exist, and buyers willing to put in work on a solid 1920s–40s structure can come out well. Pricing reflects condition — the gap between updated and original is meaningful and generally worth it to buyers who know what they're doing.

📍

BNA Is Closer Than People Think

About 15 minutes to BNA from most of the ZIP — comparable to Donelson and significantly closer than most buyers realize. For frequent flyers, this matters.

🏗️

New Development Is Coming

A new community center is in development at the center of town. Retail on Robinson Road has been building out. Old Hickory Social opened in 2024. The community is getting investment — not at the pace of places like The Nations, but measurably. Early buyers tend to benefit from this trajectory.

🏘️

Community Identity Is Genuine

Old Hickory has a neighborhood association that pays attention, a Chamber of Commerce with an official historian, and a farmers market that's been running for years. This isn't manufactured charm — it predates any real estate trend by about a century. Buyers who want to be part of something tend to stay.

Common Questions

Old Hickory FAQ

Is Old Hickory a good place to buy a home?
Yes — with eyes open. Old Hickory offers genuine community character, lake access, a walkable historic core, and Davidson County proximity at prices that remain below the inner-ring neighborhoods. The tradeoffs are real: public schools are below average, the county line requires careful navigation, and amenities are still building out. Buyers who prioritize community, outdoor lifestyle, and value over school ratings or walkable dining tend to be very happy here. The right buyer for Old Hickory knows what they want — this isn't a neighborhood you stumble into.
What is the median home price in Old Hickory?
As of early 2026, the median list price in Old Hickory (37138) is approximately $570,000, with an average of $264 per square foot. That median is somewhat skewed by higher-end lakefront listings — the most active price range for day-to-day buyers runs $300K–$550K, where historic Village bungalows, established subdivision homes, and townhomes transact most frequently. New construction and waterfront homes push well above $600K. Verify current figures against RealTracs before making decisions.
What ZIP code is Old Hickory?
The primary ZIP code for Old Hickory is 37138, which covers the Historic Village, Lakewood, the established subdivisions (Brandywine, Langford Farms, Hickory Hills), and the newer construction communities like Hadley Bend City and Canebrake at Hickory Hills. Critically, 37138 spans both Davidson and Wilson counties — which side of the line a specific address falls on affects schools, taxes, and resale dynamics. Always verify county by exact address, not ZIP alone.
How far is Old Hickory from downtown Nashville?
The Village core runs about 20–25 minutes to downtown Nashville in normal traffic via I-40 or I-65. The eastern edges of the ZIP code — toward Hadley Bend and the Wilson County line — can run 30+ minutes. BNA airport is approximately 15 minutes from most of the neighborhood, which is one of Old Hickory's underappreciated advantages. For comparison, it's closer to BNA than Brentwood or most of Williamson County.
What are the schools like in Old Hickory?
The Metro Nashville public schools serving most of 37138 are DuPont Elementary, DuPont Hadley Middle School, and McGavock High School. Niche ratings and state proficiency scores for all three are below average — McGavock's proficiency rates and DuPont Hadley's are particularly low. Families for whom school quality is a priority should look closely at Davidson Christian Academy (a private K–12 option nearby) or evaluate whether a Wilson County address in 37138 opens different public school assignments. This is a legitimate consideration that shapes who Old Hickory is the right fit for.
Can you live on the lake in Old Hickory?
Yes — and that's a meaningful differentiator. Old Hickory Lake is one of the few Nashville-area lakes where residential living directly on the water is available and relatively accessible. Communities like Waterford, Brandywine Pointe, and homes along Riverway Drive offer genuine water access and, in some cases, private boat slips. Prices for waterfront are higher than non-waterfront, but generally below comparable Hendersonville lakefront by a meaningful margin. Note: many lakefront addresses fall in Wilson County — verify before buying.
How long are homes sitting on the market in Old Hickory?
The current average is 65 days on market — meaningfully above the frenzied pace of 2021–2022, and consistent with a broader Nashville suburban market that has slowed. Well-priced homes in good condition still move faster. Listings with deferred maintenance or aggressive pricing are sitting considerably longer and pulling the average up. Sellers who price accurately from day one are still getting reasonable results; those who price for last cycle are sitting and then cutting.
What is the history of Old Hickory?
Old Hickory was built almost overnight. In January 1918, DuPont contracted with the federal government to construct the world's largest smokeless powder plant along Hadley's Bend of the Cumberland River. To house the workforce, DuPont built an entire planned community — homes, schools, churches, hospitals, a bank, YMCAs, theaters, and a hotel that could house 400 visitors. At its peak, an estimated 30,000 workers reported daily. After the armistice ended WWI, the plant shut down and the town nearly emptied. DuPont returned in 1923 and by 1925 was manufacturing rayon from the same site. For the next two decades, Old Hickory was a genuine company town. DuPont began selling homes to employees in 1946, ending corporate ownership of the townscape. The community name honors Andrew Jackson — whose Hermitage sat just down the road — and the neighborhood has maintained a distinct identity ever since.
James and Stephanie Crawford, Nesting Realty Nashville

Nesting Realty

James & Stephanie Crawford

Nashville natives with 22+ years and 500+ transactions across the greater Nashville market. We know Old Hickory — the county line nuances, which pockets hold value, and what buyers in this ZIP actually need to watch out for. We don't hand clients off to assistants. When you work with us, you work with us.

📍 Nesting Realty  ·  Donelson, Nashville TN

📞 (615) 751-8913

Ready to buy or sell in Old Hickory?

22 years of Nashville experience. 500+ transactions. Two people who actually show up.

Let's Talk About Your Goals

Explore more Nashville neighborhoods

What's your home worth in today's market?
We'll create a FREE custom report just for you!
@ Copyright 2026, NestingInNashville.com - Powered by AgentLoft
Listings SitemapPrivacy Policy