City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 140 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 $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Raleigh has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Raleigh are 456 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $8,024 (10%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 142 in Raleigh, down 140 points (50%).
The move
Raleigh and Nashville are 456 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $77,371 in Nashville, down $8,024 (9%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 282 in Nashville, up 140 points (99%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 1% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Raleigh is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $14, or $168 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Raleigh's median income is 10% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Raleigh (about $8,024 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
50% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 50% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
4% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 4% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Nashville averages about 59°F (69°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Nashville averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Raleigh scores 4% 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
On these five categories Raleigh takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Nashville because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Nashville only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 10% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Nashville (142 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 49/100 in Raleigh). That 21-point spread matters more than the $14 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $77,371 in Nashville — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Nashville and 60°F in Raleigh.
Pick Raleigh when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a Nashville ZIP you trust at $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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