City comparison
Yes. Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 309 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Albuquerque is cheaper. Median rent is $1,145 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The cost gap between Nashville and Albuquerque is the real story here. Albuquerque comes in 28% cheaper on typical rent ($1,586 vs $1,145), which over a year adds up to $5,292. Median household income runs $77,371 in Nashville and $68,317 in Albuquerque.
Nashville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Albuquerque makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Nashville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Albuquerque at $1,145 average has pockets that run $945 and others at $1,545: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Albuquerque are 1,116 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, down $441 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $68,317 in Albuquerque, down $9,054 (12%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 293 in Albuquerque, up 11 points (4%).
The move
Albuquerque and Nashville are 1,116 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $441 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $77,371 in Nashville, up $9,054 (13%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 282 in Nashville, down 11 points (4%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Albuquerque? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Albuquerque rent is 28% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Albuquerque
Winner$1,145/mo
Typical rent runs $1,145 a month in Albuquerque versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Albuquerque is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $441/month back in your pocket ($5,292/year). Over five years that's $26,460 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 Nashville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Albuquerque is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Nashville's median income is 13% higher than Albuquerque
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Albuquerque
$68,317
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $68,317 in Albuquerque, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Nashville (about $9,054 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. Albuquerque can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Nashville's crime index is 4% lower than Albuquerque
Nashville
Winner282 (100 = avg)
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Nashville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Nashville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Albuquerque. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 13% more comfortable than Albuquerque
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Albuquerque
60°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 86/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Albuquerque averages about 60°F (66°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Albuquerque averages around 60°F. Nashville scores 13% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Albuquerque if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
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 13% higher ($77,371), 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.
Nashville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Albuquerque (282 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Albuquerque
Albuquerque is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,145 a month. Choose Albuquerque if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,145/month in Albuquerque versus $1,586 in Nashville. Median income reads $68,317 in Albuquerque and $77,371 in Nashville, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Albuquerque rent at $1,145/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 60°F in Albuquerque.
Pick Albuquerque when shaving $441 off rent at $1,145/month is the priority. Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on $1,586/month rent with $77,371 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Albuquerque, plus other cities in TN and NM.
