Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $497k less ($351,400 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($1,392 vs $2,148)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $38,007/yr
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
Orange, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Households earn $38,007 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$497k less
$351,400 vs $848,200
Nashville-Davidson
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$38,007
$109,335 vs $71,328/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
80% lower
226.1 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Nashville-Davidson wins 11 and Orange wins 11. 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 Nashville-Davidson to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $848,200 median home), income ($71,328 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Orange, CA are about 1,760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.