City comparison
No. Washington's crime index is 223 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 243 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Nashville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,586 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
The income gap between Nashville and Washington is significant: $77,371 median household versus $109,870. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,586 in Nashville and $1,954 in Washington.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Nashville costs less and Washington 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. Nashville at $1,586 average has pockets that run $1,386 and others at $1,986: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Washington are 566 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $368 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $109,870 in Washington, up $32,499 (42%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 223 in Washington, down 59 points (21%).
The move
Washington and Nashville are 566 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,586 a month in Nashville, down $368 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $77,371 in Nashville, down $32,499 (30%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 282 in Nashville, up 59 points (26%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Washington, DC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Washington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Nashville rent is 19% cheaper than Washington
Nashville
Winner$1,586/mo
Washington
$1,954/mo
Typical rent runs $1,586 a month in Nashville versus $1,954 in Washington, so Nashville is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,416, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Nashville still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Washington.
Planning to buy in Nashville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Washington's median income is 42% higher than Nashville
Nashville
$77,371
Washington
Winner$109,870
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $77,371 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Washington (about $32,499 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, Washington is the stronger labor market on paper. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Washington's crime index is 21% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Washington
Winner223 (100 = avg)
Washington's crime index is 223 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Washington. 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, Washington 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
16% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 16% more comfortable than Washington
Nashville
Winner66°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Nashville averages about 66°F (75°F highs); Washington averages about 60°F (68°F highs). Nashville sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Washington averages around 60°F. Nashville scores 16% 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 Washington 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
Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% 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.
Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Washington on this page's weather index by 16%. Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Washington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Nashville (223 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
Pay is the headline: Washington median income is $109,870 versus $77,371 in Nashville (30% higher). Rent still runs $1,954/month in Washington and $1,586/month in Nashville, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Washington rates.
Washington still pays more locally ($109,870 median income vs $77,371), which can offset the lease if your field pays Washington rates.
Safety scores read 28/100 in Nashville and 36/100 in Washington.
Pick Washington when your field pays toward $109,870 median income. Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a $1,586 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Washington, plus other cities in TN and DC.
