Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 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
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($351,400 vs $458,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°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
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
23% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.6%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,392)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$107k less
$351,400 vs $458,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$1,029
$72,357 vs $71,328/yr
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
23% lower
864.2 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Nashville-Davidson wins 11 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($71,328 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,392 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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