City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Nashville and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 235 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 $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert 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 Gilbert is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Nashville at $1,586 average has pockets that run $1,386 and others at $1,986: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Gilbert are 1,429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $524 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $45,180 (58%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 47 in Gilbert, down 235 points (83%).
The move
Gilbert and Nashville are 1,429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $524 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $77,371 in Nashville, down $45,180 (37%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 282 in Nashville, up 235 points (500%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Nashville rent is 25% cheaper than Gilbert
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Nashville is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $524/month back in your pocket ($6,288/year). Over five years that's $31,440 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 Gilbert, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Nashville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
58% higher
Gilbert's median income is 58% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Gilbert (about $45,180 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, Gilbert 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
83% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 83% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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
Gilbert weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert 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
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 25% 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 58% higher ($122,551), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 83% lower than Nashville (47 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
Safety is the widest gap: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert and $1,586/month in Nashville, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Nashville rent at $1,586/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,586 in Nashville and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Between Nashville and Gilbert, Gilbert is ahead on safety — 83/100 safety versus 28/100. Lean Nashville instead when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Gilbert?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Gilbert, plus other cities in TN and AZ.
