City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Arlington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,470 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 150 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,470 in Arlington.
Arlington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Nashville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Arlington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Arlington has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Arlington are 634 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,470 a month in Arlington, down $116 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $75,171 in Arlington, down $2,200 (3%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 132 in Arlington, down 150 points (53%).
The move
Arlington and Nashville are 634 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $116 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $77,371 in Nashville, up $2,200 (3%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 282 in Nashville, up 150 points (114%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Arlington rent is 7% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Arlington
Winner$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,470 a month in Arlington versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Arlington is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $116, or $1,392 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.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Nashville's median income is 3% higher than Arlington
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Arlington
$75,171
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $75,171 in Arlington, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Nashville (about $2,200 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
53% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 53% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Arlington weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Arlington
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington scores 3% 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 Nashville 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 and professional growth
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Arlington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,470 a month. Choose Arlington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Arlington if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Nashville on this page's weather index by 3%. Nashville may pay more or cost less, but Arlington is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Nashville (132 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Arlington leads on safety (52/100 vs 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,470 in Arlington and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $116 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $75,171 in Arlington.
Arlington is ahead on safety (52/100 vs 28/100); Nashville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,586/month rent plus $77,371 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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