Nashville, TN vs Raleigh, NC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | NashvilleNashville, TN | RaleighRaleigh, NC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Moderate | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
23 traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Nashville, TN is more than triple the 7 in Raleigh, NC, a difference of 3.1× according to 2025 data. Population density in Raleigh is 2.1× higher at 3,071 people per square mile compared to Nashville’s 1,439, placing Raleigh in the 79th percentile and Nashville in the 43rd. Distance to coastline also diverges sharply: Nashville is 384 miles inland (3.3× farther than Raleigh’s 117 miles), putting Nashville in the 61st percentile versus Raleigh’s 31st. Job growth over the past year in Raleigh was +2.1%, a full 1.0 percentage points higher than Nashville’s +1.1%, with Raleigh in the 78th percentile and Nashville in the 50th.
Property crime per 100,000 people in Raleigh is 2,296, which is 40% higher than Nashville’s 1,641, placing Raleigh in the 83rd percentile and Nashville in the 64th. Average household size in Raleigh is 2.3, 5% larger than Nashville’s 2.2, with Raleigh in the 31st percentile and Nashville in the 18th. The poverty rate in Nashville is 14.1%, 2.7 percentage points higher than Raleigh’s 11.4%, putting Nashville in the 62nd percentile and Raleigh in the 49th. Median household income in Raleigh is $82,424, 10% higher than Nashville’s $75,197, with Raleigh in the 62nd percentile and Nashville in the 53rd. Bachelor’s degree attainment in Raleigh is 52.9%, 6.0 percentage points higher than Nashville’s 46.9%, placing Raleigh in the 83rd percentile and Nashville in the 76th. Both cities received an F grade for national disaster risk in 2023 data.
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 | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13168th pctl | 12967th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $383,10069th pctl | $377,80069th pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,48670th pctl | $1,46869th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $75,19753rd pctl | $82,42462nd pctl | Median household income: Nashville, TN $75,197; Raleigh, NC $82,424; Raleigh is 10% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $74,42971st pctl | $73,40070th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $109,41171st pctl | $107,89870th pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Raleigh needs about
$73,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 131 vs 129). 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 | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.8%15th pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.1%50th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Nashville, TN +1.1%; Raleigh, NC +2.1%; Raleigh is 1.0 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $46,82072nd pctl | $49,94877th pctl | Per-capita income: Nashville, TN $46,820; Raleigh, NC $49,948; Raleigh is 7% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.1%62nd pctl | 11.4%49th pctl | Poverty rate: Nashville, TN 14.1%; Raleigh, NC 11.4%; Nashville is 2.7 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 24.9 min60th pctl | 25.1 min62nd pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 18.3%79th pctl | 14.5%68th pctl | Work from home: Nashville, TN 18.3%; Raleigh, NC 14.5%; Nashville is 3.8 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 49185th pctl | 39177th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Nashville, TN 491; Raleigh, NC 391; Nashville is 25% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,64164th pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Nashville, TN 1,641; Raleigh, NC 2,296; Raleigh is 40% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Nashville, TN C+; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | 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 | About the same |
| 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: Nashville, TN B+; Raleigh, NC A+; Raleigh 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 | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState 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. | C-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 | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi1st pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Nashville, TN 1 mi; Raleigh, NC 4 mi; Raleigh is 6.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Nashville, TN F; Raleigh, NC D+; Raleigh is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 528 mi72nd pctl | 493 mi68th pctl | Distance to international border: Nashville, TN 528 mi; Raleigh, NC 493 mi; Nashville is 7% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 384 mi61st pctl | 117 mi31st pctl | Distance to coastline: Nashville, TN 384 mi; Raleigh, NC 117 mi; Nashville is 3.3 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Nashville, TN | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 684,29899th pctl | 470,76398th pctl | Population: Nashville, TN 684,298; Raleigh, NC 470,763; Nashville is 45% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,43943rd pctl | 3,07179th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Nashville, TN 1,439; Raleigh, NC 3,071; Raleigh is 2.1 times higher. |
| Median age | 34.421st pctl | 34.723rd pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.9%76th pctl | 52.9%83rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Nashville, TN 46.9%; Raleigh, NC 52.9%; Raleigh is 6.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.218th pctl | 2.331st pctl | Average household size: Nashville, TN 2.2; Raleigh, NC 2.3; Raleigh is 5% larger. |
More about Nashville's residents · Raleigh's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Nashville and Raleigh
- Median rent: $1,486 in Nashville, $1,468 in Raleigh
- Median home value: $383,100 in Nashville, $377,800 in Raleigh
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 131 in Nashville, 129 in Raleigh
- Median household income: $75,197 in Nashville, $82,424 in Raleigh
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $109,411 in Nashville, $107,898 in Raleigh
- Unemployment: 2.8% in Nashville, 3.2% in Raleigh
- Average commute: 24.9 min in Nashville, 25.1 min in Raleigh
- Violent crime per 100k: 491 in Nashville, 391 in Raleigh
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More places like Nashville and Raleigh
- 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.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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