Louisville, KY vs Nashville, TN
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | LouisvilleLouisville, KY | NashvilleNashville, TN | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 4.6% unemployment, Louisville, KY posts a rate 1.8 points higher than Nashville, TN's 2.8%, with Louisville in the 85th percentile and Nashville in the 15th. In 2023 Census figures, the cost of living index stands at 87 in Louisville versus 131 in Nashville, a 51% gap that places Louisville in the 36th percentile and Nashville in the 68th. Median home values follow the same pattern: $221,500 in Louisville against $383,100 in Nashville, with Nashville 73% higher.
The comfortable income for a family of 4 in Louisville is $63,259, while Nashville requires $109,411, a 73% difference; for a single person, the figures are $43,033 and $74,429, also 73% apart. Property crime per 100,000 people runs 86% higher in Louisville at 3,047 compared with Nashville's 1,641, placing Louisville in the 92nd percentile and Nashville in the 64th. Violent crime per 100,000 is 584 in Louisville and 491 in Nashville, a 19% gap, with both cities in the 85th percentile or above.
Median age differs by 3.3 years, with Louisville at 37.7 and Nashville at 34.4, putting Louisville in the 48th percentile and Nashville in the 21st. Bachelor's degree attainment is 13.5 points higher in Nashville at 46.9% versus 33.4% in Louisville. Work-from-home rates also diverge, with Nashville at 18.3% and Louisville at 11.6%. Population density is 66% higher in Louisville at 2,385 people per square mile compared with Nashville's 1,439.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 8736th pctl | 13168th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Louisville, KY 87; Nashville, TN 131; Nashville is 51% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $221,50035th pctl | $383,10069th pctl | Median home value: Louisville, KY $221,500; Nashville, TN $383,100; Nashville is 73% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,06938th pctl | $1,48670th pctl | Median rent: Louisville, KY $1,069; Nashville, TN $1,486; Nashville is 39% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $64,73137th pctl | $75,19753rd pctl | Median household income: Louisville, KY $64,731; Nashville, TN $75,197; Nashville is 16% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $43,03335th pctl | $74,42971st pctl | Comfortable income (single): Louisville, KY $43,033; Nashville, TN $74,429; Nashville is 73% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $63,25935th pctl | $109,41171st pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Louisville, KY $63,259; Nashville, TN $109,411; Nashville is 73% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Louisville, KY A+; Nashville, TN C+; Louisville is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Nashville needs about
$112,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 87 vs 131). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.6%85th pctl | 2.8%15th pctl | Unemployment: Louisville, KY 4.6%; Nashville, TN 2.8%; Louisville is 1.8 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.5%34th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Louisville, KY +0.5%; Nashville, TN +1.1%; Nashville is 0.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $38,89053rd pctl | $46,82072nd pctl | Per-capita income: Louisville, KY $38,890; Nashville, TN $46,820; Nashville is 20% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.1%70th pctl | 14.1%62nd pctl | Poverty rate: Louisville, KY 16.1%; Nashville, TN 14.1%; Louisville is 2.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.7 min45th pctl | 24.9 min60th pctl | Average commute: Louisville, KY 22.7 min; Nashville, TN 24.9 min; Nashville is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 11.6%56th pctl | 18.3%79th pctl | Work from home: Louisville, KY 11.6%; Nashville, TN 18.3%; Nashville is 6.7 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Louisville, KY B-; Nashville, TN A-; Nashville is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 58490th pctl | 49185th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Louisville, KY 584; Nashville, TN 491; Louisville is 19% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 3,04792nd pctl | 1,64164th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Louisville, KY 3,047; Nashville, TN 1,641; Louisville is 86% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Louisville, KY D; Nashville, TN C+; Nashville is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Louisville, KY A+; Nashville, TN A-; Louisville is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | Homesteading potential: Louisville, KY A; Nashville, TN B+; Louisville is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Nashville, TN; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | D-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
1 row not shown: taxes isn't available for Nashville, TN.
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 8 mi9th pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Louisville, KY 8 mi; Nashville, TN 1 mi; Louisville is 14.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Fair | Poor | Target proximity: Louisville, KY B-; Nashville, TN F; Louisville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 375 mi56th pctl | 528 mi72nd pctl | Distance to international border: Louisville, KY 375 mi; Nashville, TN 528 mi; Nashville is 41% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 479 mi68th pctl | 384 mi61st pctl | Distance to coastline: Louisville, KY 479 mi; Nashville, TN 384 mi; Louisville is 25% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Louisville, KY | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 627,21099th pctl | 684,29899th pctl | Population: Louisville, KY 627,210; Nashville, TN 684,298; Nashville is 9% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,38568th pctl | 1,43943rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Louisville, KY 2,385; Nashville, TN 1,439; Louisville is 66% higher. |
| Median age | 37.748th pctl | 34.421st pctl | Median age: Louisville, KY 37.7; Nashville, TN 34.4; Louisville is 3.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4%53rd pctl | 46.9%76th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Louisville, KY 33.4%; Nashville, TN 46.9%; Nashville is 13.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.336th pctl | 2.218th pctl | Average household size: Louisville, KY 2.3; Nashville, TN 2.2; Louisville is 7% larger. |
More about Louisville's residents · Nashville's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | LouisvilleLouisville, KY | NashvilleNashville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+10 | R+10 |
| 2024 presidential | D +19.0 pts | R +22.0 pts |
Full politics data: Louisville · Nashville
Moving between Louisville and Nashville
- Median rent: $1,069 in Louisville, $1,486 in Nashville
- Median home value: $221,500 in Louisville, $383,100 in Nashville
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 87 in Louisville, 131 in Nashville
- Median household income: $64,731 in Louisville, $75,197 in Nashville
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $63,259 in Louisville, $109,411 in Nashville
- Unemployment: 4.6% in Louisville, 2.8% in Nashville
- Average commute: 22.7 min in Louisville, 24.9 min in Nashville
- Violent crime per 100k: 584 in Louisville, 491 in Nashville
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
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