Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
58% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Households earn $15,228 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($351,400 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Austin by $15,228/yr
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$15,228
$86,556 vs $71,328/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
58% lower
466.9 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Austin
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 89.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.6 on the COL index
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$110k less
$351,400 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $71,328 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 15.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 45.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 684,103 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 22 categories. Austin wins 15 and Nashville-Davidson wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Austin to Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $351,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.