Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 21 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
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%)
Households earn $4,526 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
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
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Tampa, FL
Pros
60% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Homes cost $18k less ($333,200 vs $351,400)
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $4,526/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Nashville-Davidson
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$4,526
$71,328 vs $66,802/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Violent Crime
60% lower
444.6 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$18k less
$333,200 vs $351,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Nashville-Davidson is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 21 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 9 and Tampa wins 12. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $333,200 median home), income ($71,328 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Tampa, FL are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.