City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 131 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Reno is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety 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 Reno is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Reno has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Reno are 1,807 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $30 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $80,760 in Reno, up $3,389 (4%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 151 in Reno, down 131 points (46%).
The move
Reno and Nashville are 1,807 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $30 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $77,371 in Nashville, down $3,389 (4%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 282 in Nashville, up 131 points (87%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Reno rent is 2% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Reno is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $30, or $360 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 Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Reno's median income is 4% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Reno
Winner$80,760
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Reno (about $3,389 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
46% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 46% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
5% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 5% more comfortable than Reno
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Reno averages around 62°F. Nashville scores 5% 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 Reno if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (64°F) beat Reno on this page's weather index by 5%. Reno may pay more or cost less, but Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Nashville (151 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 Reno leads on safety (47/100 vs 28/100 in Nashville). Typical rent is $1,556 in Reno and $1,586 in Nashville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (47/100 in Reno vs 28/100 in Nashville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,760 in Reno versus $77,371 in Nashville.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Reno; 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Reno, plus other cities in TN and NV.
