City Profile

Nashville, Tennessee

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Nashville, Tennessee, often dubbed 'Music City,' is a vibrant metropolis renowned globally for its deep roots in country music, a thriving arts scene, and a rich history. Founded in 1779, the city quickly grew due to its strategic location on the Cumberland River, becoming a significant trade and railroad center. Today, Nashville is a dynamic hub that attracts new residents with its diverse economy, cultural attractions, and a welcoming community spirit. The city has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, transforming into one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S.. This influx of people and businesses contributes to its energetic atmosphere and continuous development.

About Tennessee

Tennessee, known as the "Volunteer State," offers a diverse landscape ranging from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, fostering a rich cultural heritage, particularly in music. The state's economy is robust and diversified, with major industries including manufacturing (automotive, chemicals, advanced manufacturing), healthcare, agriculture (soybeans, tobacco, cotton, beef cattle), and tourism. Living in Tennessee is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living approximately 10-15% lower than the national average, and it boasts no state income tax. The climate is predominantly humid subtropical, characterized by warm, humid summers and mild winters, though temperatures vary with elevation. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that blends natural beauty and outdoor recreation with vibrant cultural scenes in its major cities, alongside a strong sense of community.

704,963

Population

$77K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

55.5

Quality Score

How this 56/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 50 / 100	50.0	30%	15.0
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 98.0	46.3	25%	11.6
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $77,371 Income needed to live here: $76,000 Unemployment rate: 2.7%	59.3	20%	11.9
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.76% Job growth rate: 3%	62.0	15%	9.3
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 78 / 100	78.0	10%	7.8
Overall score				55.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 3 (deep think), q=86), last refreshed 24 July 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

100

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Nashville is generally considered to be slightly below the national average, with a cost of living index of 98, meaning it is 2% less expensive than the national average. However, housing costs are a significant factor, with the average rent for all property types reaching $2,200 per month as of July 2026. While utilities can be slightly lower than the national average, groceries are comparable, and transportation costs, particularly for car ownership, can add up due to the city's car-dependent nature and traffic congestion. The median home sale price was $475,000 in May 2026, reflecting a competitive market.

Average Rent

$2,200/mo

Groceries

$300/mo

Transport

$400/mo

Utilities

$200/mo

Healthcare

$135/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$15.55

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$30.00

Monthly groceries

$400.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$171.00

Income

Salary Insights

Nashville's economy is thriving, characterized by a diverse industry base that includes healthcare, education, technology, leisure and hospitality, and advanced manufacturing. The city's job market is robust, with an unemployment rate of 2.7% in May 2026, significantly lower than the national average. The Nashville economy added over 32,000 jobs in 2024, growing at nearly 3%. This strong job growth and a high number of job openings have positioned Nashville as a desirable location for professionals and entrepreneurs alike. The city is also recognized as a fast-growing startup scene, with a strong entrepreneurial climate.

The average salary in Nashville is $77,000 per year. You would need approximately $76,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Education +2.80% Healthcare +3.50% Technology +4.50% Leisure & Hospitality +4.00% Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics +3.00%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

Avg Temp

☀️

Summer High

❄️

Winter Low

🌧️

Annual Rain

💧

70.00%

Humidity

🌤️

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Nashville primarily relies on personal vehicles, as indicated by its low walkability score of 29 out of 100 and a transit score of 13 out of 100. The city experiences significant traffic congestion, ranking as the 11th most congested city in the U.S. in 2024, with drivers losing an average of 63 hours annually in traffic. Public transportation, primarily provided by WeGo Public Transit buses, offers 31-day passes for $65, but its coverage is not as extensive as in other major cities. Efforts are underway to improve pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, but car dependency remains high.

28 min

Avg Commute

13.00/10

Transit Score

29.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Nashville boasts a strong job market with a low unemployment rate of 2.7% as of May 2026, well below the national average.

The city's economy is highly diversified, with significant growth in healthcare, technology, and entertainment sectors.

Nashville is recognized as a fast-growing startup scene globally, with a strong entrepreneurial climate and a growth score of 68.2.

The city experiences significant population growth, with a projected annual rate of 0.76% for 2026, indicating continued dynamism.

Tourism is a major economic driver, generating substantial revenue and supporting numerous jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry [cite: 10, 38 in previous search].

Drawbacks

Nashville experiences significant traffic congestion, ranking as the 11th worst in the U.S. in 2024, leading to an average of 63 hours lost in traffic annually per driver.

Housing affordability remains a concern, with the average rent at $2,200 per month and median home prices around $475,000, which can be challenging for residents.

The city has low walkability and transit scores (29 and 13 respectively), indicating a high dependency on cars for daily commuting.

Nashville's overall crime rate is higher than the national average, although violent crime is often concentrated in specific areas.

While the city is a healthcare hub, specific quality rankings for healthcare were not readily available, and some healthcare hiring has cooled in the metro area [cite: 7 in previous search].

Head to Head

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Community Q&A

Questions about Nashville

What people ask about living in and moving to Nashville, Tennessee.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.