Is Redmond cheaper than Nashville?

No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $2,501 in Redmond — 31% lower. Median household income is $155,287 in Redmond compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Redmond has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Redmond or Nashville?

Redmond is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 140 in Nashville — 17% 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, Redmond or Nashville?

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

New search

City comparison

Redmond, WA vs Nashville, TN

Redmond, WA 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 $2,501 a month in Redmond and $1,730 in Nashville, and median household income lands at $155,287 versus $71,328. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Redmond takes job market, safety, and weather, while Nashville takes affordability. The widest gap is median income, where Redmond leads by 118% — 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 Redmond can feel further apart than Redmond and Nashville do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Redmond and Nashville reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Redmond report Full Nashville report

Redmond, WA

Rent: $2,501/mo
Median income: $155,287
Crime index: 116
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Nashville, TN

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

Rent

31% cheaper

Nashville rent is 31% cheaper than Redmond

Redmond

$2,501/mo

Nashville

Winner

$1,730/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,730 a month in Nashville versus $2,501 in Redmond, so Nashville is 31% 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 Redmond, 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

118% higher

Redmond's median income is 118% higher than Nashville

Redmond

Winner

$155,287

Nashville

$71,328

What this means for your life

Median household income is $155,287 in Redmond versus $71,328 in Nashville, so typical pay runs 118% higher in Redmond — about $83,959 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, Redmond 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

17% lower crime

Redmond's crime index is 17% lower than Nashville

Redmond

Winner

116 (100 = avg)

Nashville

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Redmond's crime index is 116 versus 140 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Redmond. 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, Redmond 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

Redmond and Nashville are about even on school scores.

Redmond

A- · 84/100

Nashville

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Redmond, 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

15% more comfortable

Redmond weather is 15% more comfortable than Nashville

Redmond

Winner

66°F typical

Nashville

79°F typical

What this means for your life

Redmond scores 15% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 66°F in Redmond and 79°F in Nashville. Redmond reads as mild, livable temperatures; 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 Nashville's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Redmond is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Redmond

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

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 118% higher ($155,287), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Redmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Nashville (116 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 Redmond report →

Fit check

Who should choose Nashville

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

Nashville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% 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.

Open the Nashville report →

Bottom line

Redmond vs Nashville, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Redmond vs Nashville FAQ

Is Redmond cheaper than Nashville?: No. Nashville is cheaper: typical rent is $1,730 a month versus $2,501 in Redmond — 31% lower. Median household income is $155,287 in Redmond compared with $71,328 in Nashville, so Redmond has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Redmond or Nashville?: Redmond is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 116 versus 140 in Nashville — 17% 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, Redmond or Nashville?: School composites are close: A- in Redmond and A- in Nashville. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Redmond?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps