Is Lakewood cheaper than Nashville?

No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $2,903 in Lakewood — 40% lower. Median household income is $113,030 in Lakewood compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Lakewood has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Lakewood or Nashville?

Lakewood is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 140 in Nashville — 13% 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, Lakewood or Nashville?

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

New search

City comparison

Lakewood, CA vs Nashville, TN

Lakewood, CA 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 $2,903 a month in Lakewood and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $113,030 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Lakewood takes job market and safety, while Nashville takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Lakewood leads by 58% — 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 Lakewood can feel further apart than Lakewood and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Lakewood and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Lakewood report Full Nashville report

Lakewood, CA

Rent: $2,903/mo
Median income: $113,030
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Nashville, TN

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

Rent

40% cheaper

Nashville rent is 40% cheaper than Lakewood

Lakewood

$2,903/mo

Nashville

Winner

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,730 a month in Nashville versus $2,903 in Lakewood, so Nashville is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $1,173/month back in your pocket — $14,076/year. Over five years that's $70,380 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 Lakewood, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Nashville is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

58% higher

Lakewood's median income is 58% higher than Nashville

Lakewood

Winner

$113,030

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $113,030 in Lakewood versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 58% higher in Lakewood — about $41,702 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Lakewood is the stronger labor market on paper. Nashville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

13% lower crime

Lakewood's crime index is 13% lower than Nashville

Lakewood

Winner

122 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Lakewood's crime index is 122 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Lakewood. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Lakewood, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Nashville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Lakewood and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Lakewood

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Lakewood, 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

4% more comfortable

Nashville weather is 4% more comfortable than Lakewood

Lakewood

80°F typical

Nashville

Winner

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Nashville scores 4% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 80°F in Lakewood and 79°F in Nashville. Lakewood reads as warm weather most of the year; Nashville reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Lakewood's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Lakewood

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Lakewood is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 58% higher here ($113,030). Start with Lakewood if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Lakewood is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 13% lower than Nashville (122 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 Lakewood report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% cheaper here at about $1,730 a month. Choose Nashville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Nashville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (79°F) beat Lakewood on this page's weather index by 4%. Lakewood may pay more or cost less, but Nashville is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Lakewood vs Nashville, called

If the job market is your priority, Lakewood is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Nashville pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Lakewood vs Nashville FAQ

Is Lakewood cheaper than Nashville?: No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $2,903 in Lakewood — 40% lower. Median household income is $113,030 in Lakewood compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Lakewood has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Lakewood or Nashville?: Lakewood is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 122 versus 140 in Nashville — 13% 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, Lakewood or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Lakewood and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Nashville?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps