City comparison
No. Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 241 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Nashville and 2022 FBI data for Orlando.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Nashville and Orlando are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,586 in Nashville and $1,747 in Orlando, and median household income lands at $77,371 versus $72,336. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Nashville is the easier city on typical rent, but Orlando can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Nashville and Orlando are 614 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $161 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $72,336 in Orlando, down $5,035 (7%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 242 in Orlando, down 40 points (14%).
The move
Orlando and Nashville are 614 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $161 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $77,371 in Nashville, up $5,035 (7%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 282 in Nashville, up 40 points (17%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Orlando, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Orlando? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Nashville rent is 9% cheaper than Orlando
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Nashville is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $161, or $1,932 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 Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Nashville's median income is 7% higher than Orlando
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Orlando
$72,336
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $72,336 in Orlando, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Nashville (about $5,035 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
14% lower crime
Orlando's crime index is 14% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Orlando
Winner242 (100 = avg)
Orlando's crime index is 242 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Orlando. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Orlando, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Nashville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Orlando
Winner71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Orlando sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Orlando 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 clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% 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.
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% 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
Pick Orlando if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Nashville on this page's weather index by 3%. Nashville may pay more or cost less, but Orlando is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Orlando is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than Nashville (242 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 33/100 in Orlando). That 5-point spread matters more than the $161 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $161 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,586 in Nashville and $1,747 in Orlando.
Orlando clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Nashville deserves a serious look only when you already know the Nashville block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Nashville when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Orlando, plus other cities in TN and FL.
