City comparison
No. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Oklahoma City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,130 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Oklahoma City split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 99 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 $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
This is a genuine split. Nashville wins on the job market and Oklahoma City wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Oklahoma City at $1,130 average has pockets that run $930 and others at $1,530: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Oklahoma City are 603 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, down $456 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, down $8,715 (11%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 99 points (35%).
The move
Oklahoma City and Nashville are 603 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $456 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $77,371 in Nashville, up $8,715 (13%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 282 in Nashville, up 99 points (54%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oklahoma City, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
Oklahoma City rent is 29% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Oklahoma City
Winner$1,130/mo
Typical rent runs $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Oklahoma City is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $456/month back in your pocket ($5,472/year). Over five years that's $27,360 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, Oklahoma City is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Nashville's median income is 13% higher than Oklahoma City
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Oklahoma City
$68,656
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Nashville (about $8,715 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. Oklahoma City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 35% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% lower in Oklahoma City. 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, Oklahoma City 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
Neck and neck
Nashville and Oklahoma City are about even on typical weather.
Nashville
66°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oklahoma City
68°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 66°F (75°F highs); Oklahoma City averages about 68°F (79°F highs). Nashville sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oklahoma City sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
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 13% 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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Oklahoma City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 29% cheaper here at about $1,130 a month. Choose Oklahoma City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 35% lower than Nashville (183 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 Oklahoma City leads on safety (42/100 vs 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $68,656), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $68,656 in Oklahoma City.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Oklahoma City; Nashville only makes sense when you have walked the Nashville ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Oklahoma City when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Oklahoma City, plus other cities in TN and OK.
