Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 13 of 21 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
684,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($235,000 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $157/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,392)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $10,888/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $10,888 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Home Value
$116k less
$235,000 vs $351,400
Houston
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.3°F
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$10,888
$71,328 vs $60,440/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Violent Crime
2% lower
1124.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 296⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 684,103 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 13 of 21 categories. Houston wins 8 and Nashville-Davidson wins 13. 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 Houston to Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $351,400 median home), income ($60,440 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.