Austin, TX vs Nashville, TN

At 2,978 people per square mile, Austin, TX and Nashville, TN differ sharply in density, with Nashville’s 1,439 per square mile placing it in the 43rd percentile versus Austin’s 77th percentile in 2023 Census figures. The two cities also sit at very different distances from national boundaries: Austin lies 196 miles from the international border while Nashville is 528 miles away, and Austin is 155 miles from the coastline compared to Nashville’s 384 miles. Population totals reflect this spread, with Austin’s 967,862 residents exceeding Nashville’s 684,298 by 41%.

The job market shows contrasting momentum based on 2023 data. Austin’s unemployment rate of 3.5% sits in the 43rd percentile, while Nashville’s 2.8% falls in the 15th percentile—a 0.7-point gap. Job growth over the past year also diverges: Austin recorded -0.1% against Nashville’s +1.1%, a 1.2-point difference that places Nashville in the 50th percentile and Austin in the 19th. Median household income follows the cost pattern, with Austin’s $91,461 exceeding Nashville’s $75,197 by 22%, and per-capita income at $59,427 versus $46,820.

Property crime rates show a notable split in 2025 figures: Austin reports 3,077 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 88% higher than Nashville’s 1,641, placing Austin in the 92nd percentile and Nashville in the 64th. Violent crime runs in the opposite direction, with Nashville’s 491 per 100,000 exceeding Austin’s 418 by 17%. Cost of living also differs, as Austin’s index of 158 is 21% above Nashville’s 131, with median home values at $512,700 versus $383,100. Both cities share an F grade for national disaster risk, and their median ages are nearly identical at 34.5 and 34.4 years.