City comparison
Yes. Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 309 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Nashville and Cleveland. Nashville averages 64°F while Cleveland averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,586 versus $1,060.
Nashville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Cleveland are 459 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $526 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $12,903 (17%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 341 in Cleveland, up 59 points (21%).
The move
Cleveland and Nashville are 459 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $526 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $77,371 in Nashville, up $12,903 (20%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 282 in Nashville, down 59 points (17%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 33% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Cleveland is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $526/month back in your pocket ($6,312/year). Over five years that's $31,560 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, Cleveland 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
20% higher
Nashville's median income is 20% higher than Cleveland
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Nashville (about $12,903 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. Cleveland 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
Nashville's crime index is 17% lower than Cleveland
Nashville
Winner282 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Nashville. 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, Nashville is the easier city. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
47% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 47% more comfortable than Cleveland
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 47% 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 Cleveland 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 20% 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 17% lower than Cleveland (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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cleveland at $1,060/month versus $1,586 in Nashville ($526 apart). Nashville median income is $77,371 against $64,468 in Cleveland, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cleveland rent at $1,060/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 28/100 in Nashville and 23/100 in Cleveland.
Cleveland clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Nashville deserves a serious look only when your $77,371 income offer in Nashville outweighs saving $526/month in Cleveland.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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