Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
Cons
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
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
29% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Median Income
$764
$72,092 vs $71,328/yr
Phoenix
Violent Crime
29% lower
799.6 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$11k less
$340,200 vs $351,400
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 14.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 9 and Phoenix 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 Nashville-Davidson to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $340,200 median home), income ($71,328 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.