Which city is safer, Bloomington or Nashville?

Bloomington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 140 in Nashville — 39% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Bloomington or Nashville?

School composites are close: A- in Bloomington and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Bloomington, IL vs Nashville, TN

Bloomington, IL versus Nashville, TN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $959 a month in Bloomington and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $73,119 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Bloomington takes affordability, job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Bloomington leads by 45% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Bloomington can feel further apart than Bloomington and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Bloomington and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Bloomington report Full Nashville report

Bloomington, IL

Rent: $959/mo
Median income: $73,119
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 68°F

Nashville, TN

Rent: $1,730/mo
Median income: $71,328
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 79°F

Rent

45% cheaper

Bloomington rent is 45% cheaper than Nashville

Bloomington

Winner

$959/mo

Nashville

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $959 a month in Bloomington versus $1,730 in Nashville, so Bloomington is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $771/month back in your pocket — $9,252/year. Over five years that's $46,260 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Nashville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Bloomington is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

3% higher

Bloomington's median income is 3% higher than Nashville

Bloomington

Winner

$73,119

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $73,119 in Bloomington versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Bloomington — about $1,791 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

39% lower crime

Bloomington's crime index is 39% lower than Nashville

Bloomington

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Bloomington's crime index is 86 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Bloomington. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Bloomington is the easier city. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Bloomington and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Bloomington

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Bloomington, A- in Nashville). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

22% more comfortable

Bloomington weather is 22% more comfortable than Nashville

Bloomington

Winner

68°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Bloomington scores 22% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 68°F in Bloomington and 79°F in Nashville. Bloomington reads as mild, livable temperatures; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Bloomington is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Nashville can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Bloomington

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Bloomington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% cheaper here at about $959 a month. Choose Bloomington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($73,119), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 68°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Bloomington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Nashville (86 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Bloomington report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Nashville

On these five categories Bloomington takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Nashville because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Nashville only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Bloomington vs Nashville, called

If cost of living is your priority, Bloomington is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Bloomington pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Bloomington offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Bloomington vs Nashville FAQ

Is Bloomington cheaper than Nashville?: Yes. Typical rent in Bloomington is $959 a month versus $1,730 in Nashville — 45% cheaper. Median household income is $73,119 in Bloomington compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Bloomington has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Bloomington or Nashville?: Bloomington is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 140 in Nashville — 39% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Bloomington or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Bloomington and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Bloomington?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps