City comparison
No. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Nashville and Atlanta split most clearly. Atlanta scores 85 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 $1,711 in Atlanta.
Atlanta is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, 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 Atlanta is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Atlanta has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Atlanta are 215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $125 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $8,281 (11%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 197 in Atlanta, down 85 points (30%).
The move
Atlanta and Nashville are 215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $125 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $77,371 in Nashville, down $8,281 (10%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 282 in Nashville, up 85 points (43%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Nashville rent is 7% cheaper than Atlanta
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Nashville is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $125, or $1,500 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 Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Atlanta's median income is 11% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Atlanta (about $8,281 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, Atlanta 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
30% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 30% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Atlanta. 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, Atlanta 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
7% more comfortable
Atlanta weather is 7% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
Atlanta
Winner61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Nashville averages about 59°F (69°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Nashville averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Atlanta averages around 61°F. Atlanta scores 7% 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
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 7% cheaper here at about $1,586 a month. Choose Nashville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
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 11% higher ($85,652), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than Nashville (197 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
Nashville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (28/100 safety vs 39/100 in Atlanta). That 11-point spread matters more than the $125 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Nashville rent at $1,586/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Nashville and 61°F in Atlanta.
If safety drives your move, Atlanta is the stronger match (39/100 safety versus 28/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Nashville, treat $1,586/month rent and $77,371 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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