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Living in
Nashville.
About
Life in Nashville
Nashville's economy is genuinely diverse these days—yes, country music and tourism matter, but so do major corporate headquarters in healthcare, banking, and automotive industries, which keeps the job market strong with unemployment under 3%. That said, it's gotten noticeably expensive; median home values hover around $413,600 and rent averages $1,586 monthly, so cost of living has climbed as the city has attracted people from elsewhere. The weather is a real consideration: summers are hot and humid, winters are mild but spring and fall bring severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes, and allergy sufferers often struggle with the diverse plant life.
Nashville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Foreign-Born
15.3%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+4.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Nashville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Nashville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (18.4%), and 11.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
12.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.2%
of households
Married Couples
34.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% above TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Nashville
In Nashville, rent runs 33% above the TN average, and home values are 44% above the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,472
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $425,889 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below TN average
Unemployment in Nashville and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Davidson County, which includes Nashville, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
Nashville: Davidson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Davidson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Nashville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area
Commute24.7 min avg
How Nashville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Nashville, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 192% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Nashville runs 192% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
961.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,871.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Davidson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Davidson County, which includes Nashville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $313,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.6M |
| 2023 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $31.0M |
| 2022 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $72,000 |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25.4M |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1097.7M |
| 2019 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.7M |
| 2018 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $301,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Davidson County, county-wide
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Davidson County, which includes Nashville, is typically good — 193 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
193
per year
Moderate Days
171
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Davidson County, county-wide
Climate88°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Nashville has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
50°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.7"
Annual Snowfall
4.7"
Hot Days/Year
51
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
75
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 28°F | 4.70" |
| Feb | 52°F | 31°F | 4.60" |
| Mar | 62°F | 39°F | 5.38" |
| Apr | 72°F | 47°F | 4.81" |
| May | 80°F | 56°F | 5.30" |
| Jun | 87°F | 64°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 4.33" |
| Aug | 89°F | 67°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 84°F | 59°F | 4.22" |
| Oct | 73°F | 47°F | 3.77" |
| Nov | 62°F | 37°F | 3.80" |
| Dec | 51°F | 32°F | 4.28" |
Healthcare11 hospitals, avg 3.8/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Nashville
Nashville has 11 hospitals, averaging 3.8 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
11
within city limits
Uninsured
12.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.8 / 5
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Vanderbilt University Medical Center · 1211 Medical Center Drive
- Hospital campus: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt · 1601 23rd Ave S, Nashville
Metro Nashville General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Tristar Summit Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Tristar Centennial Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Tristar Hendersonville Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.9 mi away · Hendersonville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Nashville
Nashville's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 48.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
166
within city limits
Private Schools
55
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Nashville
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,208 students · in-state tuition $71,226 · 93% graduate · median earnings $99,080 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,137 students · in-state tuition $43,750 · 73% graduate · median earnings $62,789 (10 yrs after entry)
Nashville State Community College
Public · 2-year · 5,653 students · in-state tuition $4,876 · 24% graduate · median earnings $42,096 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 4,848 students · in-state tuition $9,048 · 38% graduate · median earnings $47,151 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,997 students · in-state tuition $42,596 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,332 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,737 students · in-state tuition $33,300 · 60% graduate · median earnings $56,862 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,035 students · in-state tuition $27,374 · 45% graduate · median earnings $45,614 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus
Private for-profit · 2-year · 1,027 students · in-state tuition $18,740 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Stones River National Battlefield, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Nashville
Nashville has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Stones River National Battlefield (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
28 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
67 mi awayMammoth Cave National Park
National Park
80 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Nashville
Nashville Public Library
615 Church Street, Nashville
Bellevue Branch Library
720 Baugh Road, Nashville
Bordeaux Branch Library
4400 Clarksville Pike, Nashville
Donelson Branch Library
2315 Lebanon Road, Nashville
East Branch Library
206 Gallatin Road, Nashville
Edgehill Branch Library
1409 12th Avenue, South, Nashville
Edmondson Pike Branch Library
5501 Edmondson Pike, Nashville
Green Hills Branch Library
3701 Benham Avenue, Nashville
Hadley Park Branch Library
1039 28th Avenue, North, Nashville
Hermitage Branch Library
3700 James Kay Lane, Hermitage
Inglewood Branch Library
4312 Gallatin Road, Nashville
Madison Branch Library
610 Gallatin Pike South, Madison
Compare Nashville
Popular side-by-side matchups
Cities Near Nashville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Nashville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Nashville FAQ
Is Nashville, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Nashville's median rent is $1,586/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $77,371/year. Median home value is $413,600.
Is Nashville, Tennessee safe?⌄
Nashville's violent crime rate was 962 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3871 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Nashville, Tennessee?⌄
Davidson County, which includes Nashville, has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Nashville, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Nashville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,586/month and median household income is $77,371/year. The median home value is $413,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Nashville, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Nashville is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from