Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 14 of 22 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Households earn $17,884 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($351,400 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $589/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $17,884/yr
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$17,884
$89,212 vs $71,328/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
44% lower
627.9 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$334k less
$351,400 vs $684,900
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $71,328 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 15.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 45.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 14 of 22 categories. Boston wins 8 and Nashville-Davidson wins 14. 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 Boston to Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $351,400 median home), income ($89,212 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.