Room for Everyone: Multigenerational Living Near Nashville
Picture a Tuesday. Grandma walks over for dinner, the kids show her their science project, and everyone is home by eight. Nobody packed a suitcase or booked a flight.
That is the idea behind a multigenerational community: grandparents, parents and grandchildren living in the same neighborhood, each in a home of their own. At Fairington in Nolensville, it starts with a planned elementary school site, about 160 acres of parks and open space, and a mix of townhomes and single-family homes.
Why are more families choosing to live near one another?
Most Americans want family close. In a 2021 survey, 75% of U.S. adults told Pew Research Center that living near family is important, and 36% called it very important. More than half, 55%, already live within an hour’s drive of some extended family.
Grandparents are often closer than people assume. A 2025 study in Demographic Research by researchers at Cornell University and Elon University found that 47% of U.S. grandchildren live within 10 miles of a grandparent, and 13% live within a mile. As many grandchildren live within a mile of a grandparent as live 500 miles or more away.
Distance changes how families help each other. The same study found that households living near grandparents give and receive help more often, and they exchange more hours of it. Money flowed about the same at any distance. What closeness adds is time.
What is a multigenerational community?
A multigenerational community is a neighborhood designed for people at different stages of life, so relatives can live near one another in separate homes. A multigenerational household is different: several generations share one home.
Shared households are growing. Pew Research Center found that 22% of Americans lived in multigenerational households in 2024, up from 13% in 1970. Living in the same neighborhood offers the closeness while each household keeps its own front door, its own schedule and its own thermostat.
How can a multigenerational community support every stage of life?
Separate homes in one neighborhood let each generation keep its own routines. Fairington plans more than 700 homes, including townhomes and single-family homes, so a young family and a set of grandparents can each choose the home that fits how they live now.
If single-level living or low upkeep matters to you, ask the sales team which plans and homesites fit, and what the homeowners association covers. Floor plans and maintenance vary by home, so check the details for the specific residence.
Living close also makes small help easier, like a school pickup when a meeting runs late or someone to let the dog out during a trip. The Demographic Research study found that this kind of everyday help happens more often when families live near each other.
Why does Fairington’s planned elementary school matter?
Fairington’s master plan sets aside a site for a future Williamson County public elementary school inside the community. The school is still in the planning stage, and no opening date has been announced.
For families spread across generations, that site is the part of the plan worth picturing. A school within the neighborhood could mean a grandparent walking a grandchild to class, or being the easy after-school stop on busy days. Parents get backup close by. Grandparents get to be part of the ordinary school week, which is usually where the good stories happen.
What can three generations enjoy together at Fairington?
About 160 acres of Fairington are set aside for parks, green space and trails, so a family walk works for everyone from a stroller to a grandparent’s morning loop.
Fairington Club, the community’s amenity center, is under construction and expected to open in 2027. Plans include front porches, terrace gardens, an event lawn with a firepit and a resort-style pool. Fairington Friday already gives neighbors a regular reason to gather, and Brent Clayton, Fairington’s Lifestyle Manager, is shaping the calendar around what residents enjoy, from gardening to college football.
Holidays get easier too. When the family lives a few streets apart, hosting Thanksgiving ends with a short walk home and nobody sleeping on an air mattress in the office.
Why consider Fairington for multigenerational living near Nashville?
Fairington sits in Nolensville, in Williamson County, with everyday errands at Village Green and Nashville within driving distance. Our Nolensville conveniences guide covers the shops, services and routes nearby. If part of the family is relocating from another state, our moving to Tennessee guide covers what that move looks like.
Southern Land Company, the developer behind Westhaven in Franklin, planned Fairington for residents across life stages. It is not an age-restricted community, so grandparents, parents and kids share the same neighborhood by design.
Bring the whole family on your first visit. Explore homes at Fairington, or call the sales gallery to plan a tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a multigenerational community?
A neighborhood designed for people at different stages of life, so relatives can live near one another in separate homes. It differs from a multigenerational household, where several generations share one home.
How many grandchildren live near their grandparents?
About 47% of U.S. grandchildren live within 10 miles of a grandparent, and 13% live within a mile, according to a 2025 study in Demographic Research.
Does Fairington have a school?
Not yet. Fairington’s master plan includes a designated site for a future Williamson County elementary school. The site does not set zoning or enrollment, so confirm the zoned schools for any address.
Is Fairington a 55+ community?
No. Fairington is planned for residents of all ages, with townhomes, single-family homes and a future school site.
