Eads, TN Neighborhood Guide: Your Gateway to Luxurious Living

Eads, TN Neighborhood Guide

Eads, TN Homes For Sale

Eads is the kind of place that surprises people. It's not a city or even an incorporated town. It's an unincorporated community straddling the line between Shelby County and Fayette County, about 25 miles east of downtown Memphis. What you'll find here are rolling hills, horse farms, stocked ponds, wooded acreage, and custom-built homes on lots that would be unthinkable in the city. It's country living with a direct line to suburban conveniences in Collierville, Arlington, and Germantown, all within a 15 to 20 minute drive.

Founded in 1888 when the Tennessee Midland Railroad tracks were laid through the area (originally called Sewardville), Eads has experienced steady growth over the past two decades. But it's grown without losing its rural character. You're just as likely to pass a horse farm on your drive home as a newer subdivision entrance.

What to Love About Eads

• Spacious properties on one to five acres (or much more), with genuine privacy and breathing room
• Rolling hills, mature hardwoods, and a landscape that feels like countryside, not suburbia
• Low property taxes, particularly on the Fayette County side, where rates are significantly lower than in Shelby County
• Easy highway access via I-269 and TN-385, keeping Memphis, Collierville, and Germantown within reach
• Herb Parsons Lake, a 177-acre state fishing lake with trails, boat rentals, and picnic areas just minutes away
• Proximity to top-rated private schools including Briarcrest Christian School and St. George's Independent School
• A strong equestrian culture, with horse farms, riding trails, and dedicated equestrian communities throughout the area

Real Estate and Homes

Eads is not your typical suburb. There are no strip malls, no dense subdivisions packed onto quarter-acre lots. The housing stock here leans toward larger, custom-built homes on generous land, and the architectural styles range from traditional Southern brick to modern farmhouse to full-on estate properties with stables, ponds, and guest houses.

Here's what to know about the major communities and styles:

The Preserves of Notting Hill: The most prestigious gated community in Eads. Custom estates on multi-acre lots designed by noted architects, with features like wine cellars, porte cocheres, and private pools. This is the top of the market.

Aston Park: A 212-acre master-planned conservation community in Fayette County. One to two-acre lots surround a 15-acre lake, with walking trails, lake views, and wooded common areas. Craftsman and custom-built homes throughout. Low Fayette County taxes are a big draw.

Spring Mill Farms: One of the Mid-South's premier equestrian communities. Two-acre lots, custom homes, and access to a well-known hunter/jumper training facility. Ideal for horse owners and riders.

Canterbury Manor and Canterbury Estates: Newer subdivisions in the Hickory Withe area of Fayette County. Homes on one to two-acre lots with low taxes, community parks, and walking trails. Popular with families building new.

Big Bell Estates, Birnham Woods, Hickory Withe Woods: Established neighborhoods with a range of lot sizes and home styles. Some properties front private lakes, and many back up to wooded acreage.

Local Tip: The Shelby County vs. Fayette County line runs right through Eads. Properties on the Fayette County side often carry significantly lower property taxes, so pay close attention to the county line when evaluating homes. It can make a real difference in annual costs.

Outside of the named subdivisions, a large portion of Eads real estate consists of individual parcels on rural roads. You'll find everything from a 1970s ranch home on 30 acres to a newly built modern farmhouse on 10 acres with a stocked pond and outdoor kitchen. Land is still available for custom home builds, and barndominiums are permitted in some areas.

What does that mean for buyers? If you want space, land, and the freedom to build or live on your own terms, Eads delivers in a way that most communities this close to a major metro simply can't.

Lifestyle and Local Highlights

Eads itself is primarily residential. There's no traditional downtown, no walkable commercial district, and very few local businesses. That's part of the appeal. Residents do their shopping and dining in nearby towns:

• Collierville (10-15 minutes south): A walkable historic Town Square with local shops, restaurants, and a weekly farmers market. Full retail along Highway 385.
• Arlington (10-15 minutes north): Growing suburban center with restaurants, grocery stores, and family-friendly amenities.
• Germantown (15-20 minutes west): Upscale dining, boutique shopping, and the Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC).
• Cordova (15 minutes west): Big-box retail, restaurants, and quick access to I-40.

The bottom line? You trade walkability for acreage and peace, and everything you need is a short drive away.

For outdoor recreation, Eads punches above its weight. Herb Parsons Lake is a 177-acre state fishing lake managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, with boat rentals, a fishing pier, picnic areas, an archery range, and nearly 10 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails maintained by the Mid-South Trails Association. It's a Bill Dance Signature Lake, stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. The Wolf River Wildlife Management Area is nearby for kayaking and wildlife observation. Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, is also an easy drive west.

Local Tip: Herb Parsons Lake is one of the best-kept secrets in the Memphis metro for mountain biking. The trails are hard-packed silt and clay, winding through woods and past old homesteads. Just don't ride when it's wet.

Horseback riding is woven into Eads culture. Multiple equestrian communities operate here, and Spring Mill Farms has produced regional champions in hunter/jumper competition for over 20 years. Even if you're not a rider, you'll share the road with horse trailers and see paddocks and stables on your daily commute.

Schools in Eads depend on which side of the county line your home sits. Properties in Shelby County are served by the Shelby County Schools district, while Fayette County properties fall under Fayette County Public Schools. Many families in the area choose private education, and two of the region's most respected independent schools are nearby: Briarcrest Christian School (which has a campus in Eads) and St. George's Independent School, just down the road. Arlington Community Schools, a top-rated municipal district, is also accessible for some addresses.

Getting around is car-dependent, but the road network has improved considerably. Interstate 269 (the outer loop) and TN-385 provide fast connections to Collierville, Germantown, and the broader Memphis metro. Highway 64 runs east-west through the area toward Somerville and beyond. Commutes to downtown Memphis typically run 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and your starting point within Eads.

Eads isn't for everyone. There's no nightlife, no corner coffee shop, no sidewalks. But for buyers who want land, privacy, and a slower pace of life without disconnecting from a major metro, it's one of the best-kept secrets on Memphis's eastern edge.