Nashville suburb stereotypes... (Franklin, Brentwood: custom home, neighborhood, school)

[BirdieBelle]

Originally Posted by steindle

This Vandy stereotype is ridiculously off the mark, in my experience. I've attended Vandy for three years and find the vast majority of the student body to be more made up and impeccably dressed than 95% of the population at large. You're more likely to find Vanderbilt ladies grilling steaks in sundresses at a tailgate than protesting on stomachs full of organic sprouts.

Pretty irrelevant to this thread, but still. My mind is kind of blown that anyone could have that impression of Vanderbilt in comparison to, say, almost any school in the Northeast or West Coast.

I agree. I don't know where that came from. The profs are pretty liberal but the student body still tilts conservative.

At least it was when I went there.

And you're right, OP didn't ask about Vandy anyway. It's one reason I didn't wanna talk about stereotypes.

[Hey_Hey]

Does there seem to be a difference between Franklin and Brentwood? I can't tell the two apart when I'm driving through them. I guess the one difference would be further out into Franklin there are some horse farms, but as a percentage of the total population I would think the people who live on a farm would be fairly miniscule.

[BirdieBelle]

Differences? Well, I have lived in both places. Let me see ...

The reason they seem so similar is because they both have very strict planning and building codes. Also, Cool Springs blends the two fairly seamlessly. Brentwood limits its commercial areas to the northern and southern borders so the middle part is primarily residential, while Franklin has commercial businesses spread throughout the city limits.

Franklin is larger, older and the county seat. It has twice as many people as Brentwood.

Both are predominantly white, predominantly college educated.

Both are home to very high earners. Franklin's median income is in the high $70Ks; Brentwood's is around $125K.

Probably the biggest difference is that Franklin was a small town first, then with strict planning recreated itself as a quaint but spread-out suburb.

Brentwood was not a town until 1969, mostly a place for gentleman farmers and music stars & execs to live. It's housing is much more expensive. Franklin has more housing choices.

[ariesjow]

Originally Posted by steindle

This Vandy stereotype is ridiculously off the mark, in my experience. I've attended Vandy for three years and find the vast majority of the student body to be more made up and impeccably dressed than 95% of the population at large. You're more likely to find Vanderbilt ladies grilling steaks in sundresses at a tailgate than protesting on stomachs full of organic sprouts.

Pretty irrelevant to this thread, but still. My mind is kind of blown that anyone could have that impression of Vanderbilt in comparison to, say, almost any school in the Northeast or West Coast.

I had a "WTF" moment reading the Vandy stereotype as well. Perhaps that one should have been East Nashville Barbie?

East Nashville Barbie can alternate between her earthy-crunchy outfit and her hipster outfit with skinny Levi's and a new plaid, organic cotton shirt pre-faded to look vintage. She comes with cool accessories like a Turning Truck reuseable bag, a bottle of Yazoo, and a bunch of tattoo stickers so you can gradually create your own sleeve. A bike with a bent front end acquired during a botched attempt to cycle across town to Trader Joes and Whole Foods is sold seperately.

BTW, I'm TOTALLY kidding if anyone is confused or offended.

[southernsmoke]

I read the Vandy Barbie thing to be referring to the Vanderbilt area, not Vanderbilt students--not that the Vandy Barbie is really representative of the Vanderbilt area, but definitely moreso than of the Vanderbilt student body.

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

Probably the biggest difference is that Franklin was a small town first, then with strict planning recreated itself as a quaint but spread-out suburb.
.

Spring Hill should have taken some of Franklin's planning advice.

SH is nothing but a giant strip mall.

[El Passeaux]

that sounds like Phoenix

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by Hey_Hey

Does there seem to be a difference between Franklin and Brentwood? I can't tell the two apart when I'm driving through them. I guess the one difference would be further out into Franklin there are some horse farms, but as a percentage of the total population I would think the people who live on a farm would be fairly miniscule.

Some areas of Franklin and Brentwood are very similar, making it hard to distinguish them...but I think the most noticeable difference between the two is housing density. Yes, Franklin has some neighborhoods on large lots....but Brentwood is almost exclusively large lot housing or OSRD (houses closer together, but large open park-like areas within the neighborhood). To me, Brentwood is predominately made up of 2 story brick houses on acre lots. Some of the older houses are smaller ranch style...but still on larger lots. Some houses are McMansions, but certainly not all of them.

Franklin has a lot more higher density development...quarter acre or less lot size, and more housing with vinyl siding (still a large number of all-brick homes available in the city). The biggest difference are the apartments. Franklin has a good number of apartments. Brentwood doesn't. If you find yourself in an apartment complex, you are not in Brentwood.

Demographically, both are sort of similar...mostly white...but the percentages are a bit interesting (to me).

Franklin:
80.2% White
7.6% Hispanic
6.7% Black
3.8% Asian
1.4% Two or more
0.3% Other races

Brentwood:
88.3% White
5.0% Asian
2.9% Black
2.1% Hispanic
1.4% Two or more
0.3% Other races



Oh, and Franklin has projects. Ha!

[somewhereoutthere15]

The Gallatin one made me laugh.

[septimus]

Nashvols-Maybe I'm hanging out in the wrong sections of Franklin but I've never seen vinyl siding in Franklin. Only brick and hardyplank.