What it's like to live in Nashville
Nashville is a major city in Tennessee with county unemployment below the national average, a highly educated workforce, several well-rated hospitals, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Nashville deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Highly educated workforce
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
How Nashville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Nashville
Based on Nashville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,172
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,440 a year
- 51% of Nashville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,360
- Homes cost 5.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,586/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,586 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $413,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $413,600 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Davidson County is 3.0%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Davidson County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 192% above US
962 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3871/100k · Metropolitan Nashville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.7 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
11 hospitals
There are 11 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.8 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 33% above US
48% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 48% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
166 public schools inside the boundary
There are 166 public schools inside the boundary and 55 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Stones River National Battlefield (28 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nashville's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,586/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), remote workers (20% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Nashville
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Goodlettsville →
12 mi away · pop. 17,597
Rent $1,385/mo · Income $70,758
Compare with Nashville →Moving to Brentwood →
12 mi away · pop. 45,556
Rent $2,825/mo · Income $182,088
Compare with Nashville →Moving to Hendersonville →
14 mi away · pop. 63,091
Rent $1,653/mo · Income $97,200
Compare with Nashville →Moving to Mount Juliet →
15 mi away · pop. 42,073
Rent $2,011/mo · Income $107,068
Compare with Nashville →Not sure Nashville is the one?
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