Is Kent cheaper than Nashville?

No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $2,501 in Kent — 31% lower. Median household income is $86,966 in Kent compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Kent has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Kent or Nashville?

Kent 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, Kent or Nashville?

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

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City comparison

Kent, WA vs Nashville, TN

Kent, 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 $2,501 a month in Kent and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $86,966 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Kent takes job market, safety, and weather, while Nashville takes affordability. The widest gap is rent, where Nashville leads by 31% — 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 Kent can feel further apart than Kent and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Kent and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Kent report Full Nashville report

Kent, WA

Rent: $2,501/mo
Median income: $86,966
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Nashville, TN

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

Rent

31% cheaper

Nashville rent is 31% cheaper than Kent

Kent

$2,501/mo

Nashville

Winner

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,730 a month in Nashville versus $2,501 in Kent, so Nashville is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $771/month back in your pocket — $9,252/year. Over five years that's $46,260 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Kent, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Nashville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

22% higher

Kent's median income is 22% higher than Nashville

Kent

Winner

$86,966

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $86,966 in Kent versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Kent — about $15,638 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, Kent 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

Kent's crime index is 17% lower than Nashville

Kent

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

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

Kent and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Kent

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Kent, 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

22% more comfortable

Kent weather is 22% more comfortable than Nashville

Kent

Winner

68°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Kent scores 22% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 68°F in Kent and 79°F in Nashville. Kent reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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. Kent is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Nashville 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

Who should choose Kent

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 22% higher ($86,966), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 68°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Kent 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 Kent 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 31% 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

Kent vs Nashville, called

If cost of living is your priority, Nashville is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Kent pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Kent vs Nashville FAQ

Is Kent cheaper than Nashville?: No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $2,501 in Kent — 31% lower. Median household income is $86,966 in Kent compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Kent has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Kent or Nashville?: Kent 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, Kent or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Kent and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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