City comparison
Arlington, TX versus Nashville, TN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,723 a month in Arlington and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $71,736 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.
Arlington takes affordability, job market, and safety, while Nashville takes weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Nashville leads by 73% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.
Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Arlington can feel further apart than Arlington and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Arlington and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.
Arlington, TX
Nashville, TN
Rent
1% cheaper
Arlington rent is 1% cheaper than Nashville
Arlington
Winner$1,723/mo
Nashville
$1,730/mo
Typical rent runs $1,723 a month in Arlington versus $1,730 in Nashville, so Arlington is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 a year — noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Median income
1% higher
Arlington's median income is 1% higher than Nashville
Arlington
Winner$71,736
Nashville
$71,328
Median household income is $71,736 in Arlington versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Arlington — about $408 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 22% lower than Nashville
Arlington
Winner109 (100 = avg)
Nashville
140 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 109 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Arlington. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Arlington is the easier city. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
School scores
Neck and neck
Arlington and Nashville are about even on school scores.
Arlington
A- · 84/100
Nashville
A- · 84/100
School composites are effectively even (A- in Arlington, A- in Nashville). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.
Typical weather
73% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 73% more comfortable than Arlington
Arlington
92°F typical
Nashville
Winner79°F typical
Nashville scores 73% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 92°F in Arlington and 79°F in Nashville. Arlington reads as hot, long summers; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Nashville is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Arlington can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,723 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($71,736). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Nashville (109 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Arlington on this page's weather index by 73%. Arlington may pay more or cost less, but Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
If weather is your priority, Nashville is the clear choice.
If safety matters more to you, Arlington pulls ahead.
For most movers comparing these two cities, Arlington offers the better overall package.
Common questions
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