Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nashville-Davidson, TN
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 12 of 22 categories
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Tucson
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $19,279 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 100°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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($218,200 vs $351,400)
48% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $401/mo less ($991 vs $1,392)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $19,279/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$19,279
$71,328 vs $52,049/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Violent Crime
48% lower
588.8 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Tucson
Median Home Value
$133k less
$218,200 vs $351,400
Tucson
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nashville-Davidson, TN | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $351,400⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,328 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.5% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 296⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davidson County | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.7" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 684,103 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nashville-Davidson's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tucson leads 12 of 22 categories. Nashville-Davidson wins 10 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($351,400 vs $218,200 median home), income ($71,328 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nashville-Davidson, TN and Tucson, AZ are about 1,401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.