Before You Move ThereBefore You Move There
New search

City comparison

Houston, TX vs Nashville, TN

The income gap between Houston and Nashville is significant: $64,813 median household versus $77,371. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $1,586 in Nashville.

This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and safety and Nashville wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.

Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.

Full Houston reportFull Nashville report

Houston, TX

Rent
$1,361/mo
Median income
64,813
Crime index
262
Weather
80°F

School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.

Nashville, TN

Rent
$1,586/mo
Median income
77,371
Crime index
277
Weather
70°F

School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.

Comparing Houston and Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.

Check rates

Rent

14% cheaper

Houston rent is 14% cheaper than Nashville

Houston

Winner

$1,361/mo

Nashville

$1,586/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Houston is 14% 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 $2,700, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Houston still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Nashville.

Planning to buy in Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.

Check rates

Median income

19% higher

Nashville's median income is 19% higher than Houston

Houston

$64,813

Nashville

Winner

$77,371

What this means for your life

Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Nashville (about $12,558 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, Nashville is the stronger labor market on paper. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

5% lower crime

Houston's crime index is 5% lower than Nashville

Houston

Winner

262 (100 = avg)

Nashville

277 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Houston's crime index is 262 versus 277 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 5% lower in Houston. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Houston, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Nashville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

Typical weather

Neck and neck

Houston and Nashville are about even on typical weather.

Houston

80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100

Nashville

70°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100

What this means for your life

Houston averages about 80°F (87°F highs); Nashville averages about 70°F (79°F highs). Houston sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Nashville sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.

Fit check

Who should choose Houston

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Houston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 5% lower than Nashville (262 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 Houston report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 19% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Houston vs Nashville: Our Take

Nashville posts $77,371 median household income against $64,813 in Houston. That 16% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,361 in Houston and $1,586 in Nashville.

Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.

Safety scores read 31/100 in Houston and 29/100 in Nashville.

Nashville leads on local pay ($77,371 median income vs $64,813), even though rent runs $1,586 versus $1,361 — skip Nashville only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.

Common questions

Houston vs Nashville FAQ

Is Houston cheaper than Nashville?
Yes. Typical rent in Houston is $1,361 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville (14% cheaper). Median household income is $64,813 in Houston compared with $77,371 in Nashville, so Nashville has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Houston or Nashville?
Houston is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 262 versus 277 in Nashville (5% 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, Houston or Nashville?
School quality varies by neighborhood in Houston. Check GreatSchools.org or your local district for current ratings before you choose a ZIP. The same applies in Nashville. We do not publish a citywide school grade comparison because we do not yet have a verified public school-quality feed.

Ready to move to Houston?

Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps

Tools for your move

Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.

Keep researching

Explore more comparisons

Nearby research

Related Cities

Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Nashville, plus other cities in TX and TN.