What it's like to live in Smyrna
Smyrna is a smaller city in Tennessee with unemployment below the national average, a population that has grown fast since 2020, 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. Smyrna deals with cold winters, above-average rainfall, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Smyrna compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Smyrna
Based on Smyrna's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,922
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,440 a year
- 48% of Smyrna renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$71,660
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,830
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,461/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,461 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 $358,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $358,300 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 35% below US
2.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
333 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1907/100k · Smyrna Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
26 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 26.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Stones River National Battlefield (8 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Smyrna's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are cold winters and above-average rainfall. A year of median rent ($1,461/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Smyrna
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