City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Nashville and Toledo. Nashville averages 64°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,586 versus $934.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Toledo costs less and Nashville pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Toledo at $934 average has pockets that run $734 and others at $1,334: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Toledo are 418 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $934 a month in Toledo, down $652 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $62,224 in Toledo, down $15,147 (20%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 221 in Toledo, down 61 points (22%).
The move
Toledo and Nashville are 418 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $652 a month (70%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $77,371 in Nashville, up $15,147 (24%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 282 in Nashville, up 61 points (28%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Toledo rent is 41% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Toledo is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $652/month back in your pocket ($7,824/year). Over five years that's $39,120 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, Toledo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Nashville's median income is 24% higher than Toledo
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Toledo
$62,224
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $62,224 in Toledo, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Nashville (about $15,147 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. Toledo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 22% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
59% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 59% more comfortable than Toledo
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 59% 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 Toledo 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 24% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Nashville (221 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
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts Nashville by $652/month ($934 vs $1,586). I would not pick Nashville on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (36/100 in Toledo vs 28/100 in Nashville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 28/100 in Nashville and 36/100 in Toledo.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Toledo; 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 Toledo, plus other cities in TN and OH.
