Nashville, Tennessee, is a fantastic place to call home, and moving can be a life-changing experience. Nashville residents enjoy the city’s live music scene, Prince’s hot chicken, growing healthcare industry, and incredibly diverse culture.
In this article, we’ll discuss several things you need to know before relocating to Nashville, including the cost of living, real estate price, employment opportunities for young professionals, and its live country music scene.
Life in Nashville
Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, with nearly 80 people moving in each day, so you’ll hardly be the only newcomer to the Music City. It’s a fantastic place to live, especially if you’re a fan of southern comfort food, country music, or the Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. The city has an incredibly growing job market, breweries sprouting like mushrooms after rain, coffee shops, and a pretty vivid nightlife.
Thanks to these qualities, Athens of the South doesn’t suffer from the lack of newcomers, as people flock to the city for its job market and music industry. As a result, the natives tend to be friendly and welcoming, so you’ll be able to meet people from very diverse backgrounds.
The cost of living in Nashville is approximately 3% lower than the national average, with the housing prices lower by 9%. The notable exception to this statistic is studio apartments, which are slightly more expensive to live in, with prices 8% higher than the national average. Proportionally speaking, you’re better off renting or purchasing a two-bedroom apartment.
Admittedly, the city has relatively low median monthly rent costs, but the cost of living in the city center is getting more expensive by the year. Nashville residents spent most of their money on food and rent. However, if you can find affordable housing and choose to eat at home rather than out, living in Nashville isn’t very expensive.
Crime in Nashville
Robbery crime rates for the Nashville area have decreased by 9.88%, aggravated assault went down by 1.32%, and sexual assault crimes went down by 7.13%. Nashville’s total crime index offenses reported have increased by 3.50%, with violent crimes taking up 8.76%.
Social Life in Nashville
Due to its lively nightlife, Nashville is often the host of numerous bachelor and bachelorette parties, girls’ weekends out, and school reunions. In addition, downtown Broadway Street and numerous nearby locales are filled with restaurants and bars featuring live music. Put on your cowboy boots and get ready to grab a drink at one of the following bars:
- Honky Tonk Central — A massive honky-tonk venue that pairs pub food with live country music all day long
- The Stage On Broadway — Live country music along with a massive dance floor
- Tootsies Orchid Lounge — The crossroads of country music, infamous for the many famous musicians that have performed there
In addition to country-themed local watering holes, you can visit some of Nashville’s numerous craft breweries that offer unique brews with unique flavors. Each of these has its style and approach to brewing and brings something entirely different to its customers in terms of taste. The only thing that tops live country music is drinking a cold one while enjoying a live country performance.
- Blackstone Brewing Company — The first craft brewery in Nashville, offering 16 brews on tap and pub food
- Bearded Iris Brewing — This brewery was originally founded in Germantown, and interestingly enough, it allows its customers to bring their own food. The fine establishment will provide the drinks
- Southern Grist Brewing Company — East Nashville’s family-friendly brewery that offers board games to keep your company entertained
- New Heights Brewing — This place has a pretty long tap list, cold brews, and coffee and cream ale
Food in Nashville
If you’re really interested in local Nashville cuisine, you can pick up classic barbeque dishes, such as pulled pork platters, dry-rubbed ribs, or a BBQ sandwich. However, if you’re in the mood for a farm-to-table meal, locales such as the Husk and Southern Steak and Oyster feature a frequently rotating menu.
The Nashville Economy
The COVID-19 pandemic and the related shutdowns had a significant impact on the U.S. economy, which managed to rebound in 2021, decreasing the unemployment rate from 14.8% in April 2020 to a mere 5.8% in May 2021.
However, metro areas saw an uneven recovery, and Nashville topped the list for economic growth rate in 2021. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nashville had only a 3.9% unemployed rate, which is significantly lower compared to the national average, while the state of Tennessee ranked 11th on the list. Nashville ranked first, followed by Raleigh, NC, and Austin, TX.
Young professionals and people with and without skills are flocking to Nashville in search of job opportunities, which Nashville has plenty of. The job market is so fantastic at the moment that local residents often say that it’s easier to find a job than a house in the city.
If you’re having trouble finding a home in downtown Nashville, Davidson county in general, or are looking to sell your home in Nashville, check out Nexus Homebuyers, a company that buys houses in Knoxville. Besides purchasing houses in Tennessee, the company also offers insight into house market statistics and the cost of living in TN.
Public Transportation in Nashville
The Music City offers multiple public transportation options, ranging from buses to rent-a-bikes, considering that Nashville is the most bike-friendly place among the Southern cities. In addition to bus and bike transport, you can catch a ride on a commuter train that connects Nashville with Donelson, Hermitage, Hamilton Springs, and several other locations. If that doesn’t work, you can always call an Uber.
Education in Nashville
The city isn’t called the Athens of the South for nothing; the nickname was actually acquired due to the higher education options in the area and an exact replica of the Parthenon. Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, and Tennessee State University are just some of the many higher-education facilities located in Nashville.
School-aged children may attend Franklin County School District, with Franklin High School, Clovercroft Elementary, and Freedom Intermediate Schools.
Outdoor Activities in Nashville
The Parthenon of Nashville is located in Centennial Park and stands as a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon located in Greece. This 47-foot monument is actually a museum hosting numerous shows and exhibits, so you can spend an entire afternoon enjoying its grounds.
Apart from parks and trails, other activities may include a visit to the Nashville Zoo, home to exotic species such as kangaroos, tortoises, pythons, and parrots, or taking your family to the Adventure Science Center and catching a show at the planetarium or some of the interactive exhibits.
You can also spend the day watching wildlife, hiking, biking, or having a family picnic along the Cumberland River at Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area. You can let your furry family members loose at the dog park, or go biking at Warner Parks, which spans over 3,100 acres.
Other Attractions in Nashville
If you just moved, hop onto the Nashville trolley for a sightseeing tour, and enjoy countless sightseeing locations, historical spots, museums, and iconic restaurants. Additionally, you can visit the Belle Meade plantation or check out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Meetups in Nashville
One of the biggest concerns of moving into another city is meeting new people, especially if you’re moving alone. As we previously described, Nashville has an incredibly vivid nightlife and plenty of social locations, such as bars and breweries where you can meet new people.
Dating apps might be the best approach if you’re absolutely new in Nashville. Keep in mind that these aren’t used exclusively for dating, and you can use them to find like-minded people who would show you around the city and introduce you to the most popular hotspots in Nashville.
Social media pages are also a fantastic way of meeting new people in Nashville. Just hop onto Facebook and visit Hip Nashville and YEP Nashville online communities. These pages are fantastic for meeting new people and discovering social events.
In the end, if you’re friendly and polite, the good people of Nashville will offer their famous southern hospitality. Remember, being nervous is normal, but you shouldn’t allow it to spoil your fun, and you’ll find a social circle in no time.
Endnote
Nashville, Tennessee, is currently one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., with a daily influx of newcomers, a booming economy, growing job market, and relatively affordable housing options.
If you’re interested in selling real estate in Nashville, consult with Nexus Homebuyers, a company that helps customers from Nashville, Knoxville, and Tennessee in general, sell their homes at reasonable prices in the shortest amount of time.
