Is Auburn cheaper than Nashville?

No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $1,922 in Auburn — 10% lower. Median household income is $90,115 in Auburn compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Auburn has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Auburn or Nashville?

Auburn is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 140 in Nashville — 17% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Auburn or Nashville?

School composites are close: A- in Auburn and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Auburn, WA vs Nashville, TN

Auburn, WA 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 $1,922 a month in Auburn and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $90,115 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Auburn takes job market, safety, and weather, while Nashville takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Auburn leads by 26% — 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 Auburn can feel further apart than Auburn and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Auburn and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Auburn report Full Nashville report

Auburn, WA

Rent: $1,922/mo
Median income: $90,115
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 64°F

Nashville, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $71,328
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

10% cheaper

Nashville rent is 10% cheaper than Auburn

Auburn

$1,922/mo

Nashville

Winner

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,730 a month in Nashville versus $1,922 in Auburn, so Nashville is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,304 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Nashville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Auburn.

Median income

26% higher

Auburn's median income is 26% higher than Nashville

Auburn

Winner

$90,115

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $90,115 in Auburn versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Auburn — about $18,787 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Auburn is the stronger labor market on paper. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

17% lower crime

Auburn's crime index is 17% lower than Nashville

Auburn

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Auburn's crime index is 116 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Auburn. 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, Auburn 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

Auburn and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Auburn

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Auburn, 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

9% more comfortable

Auburn weather is 9% more comfortable than Nashville

Auburn

Winner

64°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Auburn scores 9% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 64°F in Auburn and 79°F in Nashville. Auburn reads as mild, livable temperatures; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Nashville's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Auburn is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Auburn

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 26% higher ($90,115), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 64°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Auburn is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Nashville (116 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.

Open the Auburn report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Nashville

Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,730 a month. Choose Nashville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Auburn vs Nashville, called

If the job market is your priority, Auburn is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Nashville pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Auburn offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Auburn vs Nashville FAQ

Is Auburn cheaper than Nashville?: No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $1,922 in Auburn — 10% lower. Median household income is $90,115 in Auburn compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Auburn has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Auburn or Nashville?: Auburn is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 140 in Nashville — 17% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Auburn or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Auburn and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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