Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 22 categories
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
629,176
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
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.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($204,800 vs $351,400)
37% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $378/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,392)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $8,214/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $8,214 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Violent Crime
37% lower
707.4 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$147k less
$204,800 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$8,214
$71,328 vs $63,114/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $204,800 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,114 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.4°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 15.1" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 629,176 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.4% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.6% |
→ Full profile: Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
→ Full profile: Nashville-Davidson, TN
Frequently Asked Questions
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's cost of living index is 94.0 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 22 categories. Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 13 and Nashville-Davidson wins 9. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government to Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($204,800 vs $351,400 median home), income ($63,114 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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