City comparison
Yes. Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 309 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The income gap between Nashville and St Louis is significant: $77,371 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,586 in Nashville and $997 in St Louis.
Nashville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Nashville is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and St Louis are 253 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $997 a month in St Louis, down $589 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $56,160 in St Louis, down $21,211 (27%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 352 in St Louis, up 70 points (25%).
The move
St Louis and Nashville are 253 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $589 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $77,371 in Nashville, up $21,211 (38%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 282 in Nashville, down 70 points (20%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
St Louis rent is 37% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,586 in Nashville, so St Louis is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $589/month back in your pocket ($7,068/year). Over five years that's $35,340 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, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Nashville's median income is 38% higher than St Louis
Nashville
Winner$77,371
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Nashville (about $21,211 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Nashville's crime index is 20% lower than St Louis
Nashville
Winner282 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Nashville's crime index is 282 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Nashville. 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, Nashville is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 21% more comfortable than St Louis
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 21% 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 St Louis 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 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 38% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Nashville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than St Louis (282 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, St Louis undercuts Nashville by $589/month ($997 vs $1,586). I would not pick Nashville on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Louis rent at $997/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 28/100 in Nashville and 22/100 in St Louis.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in St Louis; Nashville only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Nashville at $77,371 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and St Louis, plus other cities in TN and MO.
