Considering moving to Nashville? In addition to being one of the friendliest cities in the U.S., Music City is a great Southern city to call home—thanks to its live music scene, delicious hot chicken, budding healthcare industry, and diverse culture. Check out these 18 things to know about living in Nashville!
Live in an Affordable Southeastern City
Nashville is frequently recognized as one of the best places to live in the Southeast—but did you know it’s also one of the best places to live in the U.S.? At 8% higher than the national average, Nashville’s cost of living makes this Tennessee city a great place to live when compared to other major cities like San Francisco or Chicago, which are 137% and 14% above the U.S. national average, respectively—and it doesn’t hurt that residents in Nashville don’t have to pay state income tax. Nashville’s affordability extends to healthcare, utilities, and the housing market—with a median home price around $264,600 and average monthly rent of $1,170. And with many Nashville neighborhoods that are great for home buyers or renters, you can find a safe, affordable neighborhood that fits your lifestyle.
Find a Job in Nashville
Looking for jobs in Nashville? This Tennessee city has a relatively low unemployment rate of 2.9% and has experienced so much job growth in the last few years that it’s considered one of the best cities for young professionals. Headquartered just south of Nashville in Franklin, Nissan North America is one of the largest employers in the Nashville metro. There’s also a large healthcare industry in Nashville—known as the health services capital—with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and HCA Healthcare employing thousands locally. For those looking to work in the entertainment industry, Music City offers employment opportunities with Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. And since Nashville is also one of the bachelorette party capitals of the U.S., the local tourism and hospitality industries are seeing major growth as well.
Seek Higher Education
If you’re looking to further your education in Nashville, the city is home to several great universities and colleges. Study elementary education, music, nursing, and more at Belmont University. Choose from law, engineering science, medical physics, or art programs at Vanderbilt University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Get a degree in philosophy, theology, or history at Aquinas College, a historically Catholic school. Learn more about agricultural sciences, business information systems, or computer science when you sign up for classes at Tennessee State University. Earn your associate degree or certificate in culinary arts, retail management, or hospitality management at Nashville State Community College. Attend a private university that offers students a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degrees from art history to graphic design at Lipscomb University. Or earn your degree in political science, psychology, or English literature at Fisk University, founded in 1866.
Get Around with Nashville Public Transit
Even though the city of Nashville is pretty car-dependent, residents can get around the city with several convenient public transportation options. Hop on one of WeGo Public Transit‘s 27 local bus stops to travel throughout the Nashville metropolitan area. Ride your bike—or rent an electric bike with Nashville BCycle—for an eco-friendly commute in this bikeable city! Need to travel between Nashville and its nearby suburbs? Catch a ride with WeGo Star, a commuter train with seven stops connecting Nashville and Lebanon. Commuters can also travel on I-24, I-40, or I-65 for easy access to work or school in the greater Nashville area.
Discover the Magic of Music City
No city does music like Music City, the songwriting capital of the world! One of the best things about living in Nashville is being surrounded by music history and culture. Watch the biggest music stars walk the red carpet at the annual Country Music Awards. Stop by the famous Bluebird Cafe to listen to up-and-coming country music artists. See country music stars like Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, and Carrie Underwood perform at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. With over 100 years of music history, see where the biggest names of country music performed when touring the historic Ryman Auditorium. Head to the Music City Walk of Fame, a landmark honoring musicians of all genres who have made a significant contribution to Nashville. Attend and vote for your favorite country artist at the CMT Awards. Or attend the annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, whether you’re a songwriter or a fan!
Spend the Day Outdoors
There are plenty of things to do outside in Nashville! Spend the day strolling through Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Downtown Nashville. Watch wildlife, go hiking and biking, or have a family picnic along the Cumberland River at Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area. Spend a weekend camping, fishing, or boating at Percy Priest Lake. Take your horse out on the trails, let your furry friends loose at the dog park, or go mountain biking at The Warner Parks, which span more than 3,100 acres. Watch the kiddos climb on the playground as the large mosaic serpent slithers throughout the landscape at Fannie Mae Dees Park, also known as Dragon Park. Or head to the 1,368-acre Radnor Lake State Park, where you can go hiking, biking, or view wildlife.
Take Advantage of the Pleasant Nashville Weather
One of the best things about living in Nashville is its pleasant year-round weather! With 205 sunny days per year and annual temperature averages ranging from 28 to 89 degrees, you can experience mild weather all year long. Nashville’s humid subtropical climate experiences all four seasons, offering vibrant springs, warm summers, cool autumns, and mild winters. Because of its humid climate, Nashville also gets about 49 inches of rain per year. Nashville’s winters are relatively temperate, and while the city experiences occasional snowfall, extreme and prolonged cold weather isn’t common. If you’re looking for a city with good weather year-round, Nashville may be the best option for you!
Experience the Athens of the South
Nashville is often referred to as the “Athens of the South” due to its strong educational history. Dating back to the 1800s, Nashville was the first Southern city to establish a public school system and many other higher education institutions—a value shared with those of Athens in Ancient Greece. Today, the nickname is more associated with the fact that Nashville is home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon Temple. Located in Centennial Park, the Parthenon replica was built in 1897 for Nashville’s centennial celebration. When walking into the Parthenon, be sure to admire the 42-foot statue of Greek goddess Athena, and check out exhibits like The Cowan Collection of American Art or Christy Lee Rogers: The Muses!
Check Out the Kid-Friendly Activities
Looking for fun things to do with kids? Check out one of the many family attractions in Nashville! Bring your family to the Adventure Science Center, where you can catch a show at the planetarium or get hands-on with interactive exhibits. Watch fish swim, get up close with red kangaroos, participate in fun classes like ZooTots, or attend events like Sips for Species at the Nashville Zoo. Check out SoundWaves or Wave Country, Nashville’s only wave-action swimming pools. Tour historical passenger trains, and take a day trip to nearby areas at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. Sign the kiddos up for drama camp, or see musicals at the Nashville Children’s Theatre. Camp with your family, and see the Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum and Loretta’s Frontier Homestead at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Tour the original pre-Civil War-era farmhouse and home of President Andrew Jackson at Andrew Jackson Hermitage. Or tour the Belmont Mansion, where Adelicia Hayes and a number of enslaved people once lived.
Visit Top Nashville Attractions
There are lots of great landmarks in Nashville worth checking out! Tour the Greek-Revival mansion at Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery to learn how experiences of the enslaved have played an important role in Nashville’s history. Spend the day walking the 55-acre garden and historic estate of the Cheek family at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Make your way to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in SoBro to see exhibits honoring the best country music artists throughout the years. View the largest collection of Johnny Cash memorabilia at the world-renowned Johnny Cash Museum in Downtown Nashville. Discover more about famous musicians and artists like Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, or Barbara Mandrell at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum. Or if you can’t decide which sites to check out, hop on a Nashville trolley sightseeing tour to visit all kinds of historic spots, museums, restaurants, and more!
Explore Nashville’s Arts & Culture
Don’t forget to check out Nashville’s arts and culture! Admire paintings, sketches, and sculptures by world-renowned artists at Frist Art Museum. Get your camera ready and explore Nashville murals, designed to show off the abundance of Nashville street art. Grab some popcorn to see independent, classic, foreign films, and documentaries at The Belcourt Theatre. Get tickets to dance performances, musical performances, and more at OZ Arts Nashville. See the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony Orchestra play at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. See the annual performance of The Nutcracker put on each holiday season by the Nashville Ballet. Catch the latest Broadway production, attend the annual Broadway Brunch event, or sign the kids up for Broadway Theatre Camp at Nashville Repertory Theatre. See live performances of shows like The Barber of Seville and The Girl of the Golden West by attending a Nashville Opera production. Or enjoy popular plays, musicals, and performances from the biggest names in music at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Attend Nashville’s Annual Events
If you want to live in a city with fun festivals and events, Nashville is the place for you! Find live music, Japanese food, martial arts performances, and more each spring at Nashville’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Celebrate the LGBTQ community each June by attending the parade, enjoying live music, and taking part in a variety of activities at Nashville Pride. Check out the Southern Festival of Books—one of the of oldest literary festivals in the country—which features around 200 authors each year. Catch the latest trends on the runway at Nashville Fashion Week. Grab your blanket and gather in the park as actors showcase the works of Shakespeare at The Nashville Shakespeare Festival. Experience German culture in Nashville by listening to live music, watching the Bratwurst Eating Contest, trying beers from local breweries, and more at Nashville Oktoberfest. Immerse yourself in the art of film when attending the Nashville Film Festival. Or gather to listen to the biggest names in country perform over four days at the CMA Fest, hosted by the Country Music Association!
Get Your Fill of Local Nashville Sports
Whether you’re a football lover, baseball follower, hockey enthusiast, or racing fan, Nashville’s sports scene is for you! Join the packed house to cheer on the Tennessee Titans (NFL) at Nissan Stadium. Watch the Nashville SC (USL) play a game of soccer at Geodis Park. Take the family to a ball game at First Horizon Park to root for the Nashville Sounds (MiLB). Get your hockey fix when watching the Nashville Predators (NHL) on the ice at Bridgestone Arena. Or experience the ultimate adrenaline rush by watching car races like the Pro Late 100 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
Dine at Nashville’s Restaurants
There’s no shortage of amazing Nashville restaurants! Order a Biscuits & Gravy dish for breakfast or get more protein with the Southern Benny paired with a side of Chili Grits at Biscuit Love. Visit The Southern Steak & Oyster for Sunday Brunch, where you can sip a Mimosa while enjoying the Southern Fried Egg Sandwich or Breaux Bros Gumbo. Dig into Tennessee BBQ favorites like a Pulled Pork Platter, Full Rack Dry Rubbed Ribs, or BBQ Sandwich—and don’t forget to order the BBQ Beans and Potato Salad at Peg Leg Porker. Check out Husk for a Southern farm-to-table restaurant with a frequently-rotating menu. Try the BBQ Nachos, Brisket Sandwich, or Smoked Wings at Edley’s Bar-B-Que. Listen to local singers and songwriters take the stage while eating classic Southern favorites like Sweet Potato Skins, Meatloaf, and Shrimp & Grits at The Row Kitchen & Pub.
Try Some Nashville Hot Chicken
Southern cuisine isn’t the only thing Nashville restaurants are known for. Don’t forget to try Nashville’s famous hot chicken! Visit a local favorite that turned into a national chain with Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, serving spicy fried chicken that’s ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. Stop by regional chain Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack where you can order a Whole or 1/2 Chicken with Lite Mild or XXX Hot sauce, and pair it with ‘Get it Girl’ Greens or Potato Salad. Try the Hot Chicken Plate sauced to your ideal temperature or order house specialties like Nashville’s Original Hot Chicken Sandwich or Peppercheese when dining at Pepperfire Hot Chicken. Or head to family-owned Red’s 615 Kitchen for Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders, a Southern Dirty Bird Sandwich, or the Hot Chicken Mac and Cheese Crunchwrap.
Head to Honky Tonk Highway
Located on Lower Broadway is Nashville’s hot spot for live music and drinks—Honky Tonk Highway! Grab your cowboy boots and enjoy a night of dancing with friends, live music, and great drinks at country bar The Stage on Broadway. Once voted the Local Favorite Honky Tonk, listen to live music seven days a week and pick from a variety of beers and great food options at Robert’s Western World. Get your fill of country and bluegrass bands while sipping drinks at one of Nashville’s woman-owned honky-tonks, Layla’s Honky Tonk. Snack on BBQ favorites while watching sports on the big screen or relaxing on the rooftop deck at Rippy’s Honky Tonk. And don’t forget to visit Nudie’s Honky Tonk, where you’re bound to have a good time with great food and drinks, live music, and a fantastic rooftop view!
Pour Some Whiskey
Are you a whiskey connoisseur? You’ll love living in Nashville, where the whiskey flows like water! Stop by Gertie’s Bar—located in The Gulch below The 404 Kitchen—for one of the largest whiskey collections in the South. Sample the Dark Rye or Triple Smoke Whiskey at Corsair Distillery. Head over to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, where you can taste their sour mash Tennessee Whiskey. Enjoy flights of bourbon and whiskey along with burgers at The Stock & Barrel. Try the Arabica Coffee or Texas Pecan whiskey infusions at Standard Proof Whiskey Co. And if you want to continue your whiskey journey, there are tons of Tennessee distilleries in and around the Nashville area that you can visit!
Enjoy a Night Out in Music City
Looking to have a fun night out with friends? Check out Nashville’s nightlife spots! Experience a night of live music and great food at Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre. Catch a standup comedy show with a friend or partner for an evening full of laughter at Zanies Nashville. Enjoy Cajun and Creole food and drinks while dancing the night away at Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar. Catch up with friends while listening to live music and sipping a wide selection of drinks at Alley Taps, a speakeasy in Downtown Nashville. Sip a Prohibition-style cocktail while listening to Nashville jazz and blues bands at Rudy’s Jazz Room. Head over to Play for incredible drag shows and themed parties. Or gather some friends for drinks, dancing, and epic piano shows at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar.
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