Living in Nashville, TN
Big city in Tennessee
Nashville is a big city in Tennessee, home to about 684,000 people, with 1.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Music, healthcare and a fast-growing economy, with no state income tax on wages. Car-dependent and getting pricier.
Is Nashville a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 10 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.61% property tax
- Highly educated: 47% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3 research universities are within 31 mi
- Easy flying: BNA is 4 mi away
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Higher crime: violent crime is 2.8× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Cloudier than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Nashville ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Nashville: common questions
What is the cost of living in Nashville?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $409k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,210 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 96, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Nashville?
Tennessee has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.61% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Nashville safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.8× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Nashville?
Nashville has cool winters: winter days average around 51°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 5″ of snow a year.
Does Nashville get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 15 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.61 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Nashville?
The nearest major airport is BNA, about 4 mi away.
How Nashville scores
Each bar compares Nashville with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Nashville right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.