NashvilleMoney Index August 2026
"No income tax, music to your wallet."
Nashville — Money Index — Key Facts
- Financial Stress: 50/100. Money stress in Nashville sits at 50/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- 54% Own Their Home. Only 54% of Nashville households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- 7% of Land Is Parks. Only about 7% of Nashville's land is parkland — well below the big-city median. Outdoor recreation costs more here.
- Work-Life Balance: 60/100. Nashville scores 60/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- 25-Minute Commute. Nashville's one-way commute averages 25 minutes — right around the US norm. Roughly 192 hours a year on the road.
- Happiness Score: 71/100. Residents rate life in Nashville a 71/100 — one of the happiest big metros in the country.
- Nashville Quirk. Nashville added jobs faster than nearly any major US city in the 2020s.
- Cost of Living: 104. Nashville's cost of living sits at 104 — basically the US baseline (100 = US average).
- Median Household: $68k. Nashville households earn about $68k — roughly 9% below the US average.
- 13% Savings Rate. Nashville households save about 13% of income — close to the US average.
Tennessee has no state income tax, and Nashville's wage growth has outpaced the US since 2018.
With a median household income of ~$68k, a 13% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 104, Nashville ranks #21 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
Only ~7% of Nashville's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Nashville's average commute (~25 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Nashville household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Nashville's cost of living and savings rate.
How Nashville feels about money
Four Nashville money truths
Nashville's savings rate runs 13% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Nashville runs above the US average, so price discipline matters more here than in most metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Tennessee residents in Nashville report a 71/100 happiness score with stress at 50/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Nashville added jobs faster than nearly any major US city in the 2020s."
Money lessons from Nashville
- 1
Move once — for tax and career
- 2
Don't buy at the peak of a hype cycle
- 3
Save the bonus, every time
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Nashville money FAQ
Is Nashville, Tennessee a good city for saving money?+
Nashville households save about 13% of income, with a happiness score of 71/100 and a work-life balance score of 60/100. Tennessee has no state income tax, and Nashville's wage growth has outpaced the US since 2018.
What is the median household income in Nashville?+
The median household income in Nashville, Tennessee is roughly $68,000 per year. About 52% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Nashville?+
Nashville's cost of living index sits at 104 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 54%.
How long is the average commute in Nashville?+
Nashville's average commute (~25 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
How much urban green space does Nashville have?+
Only ~7% of Nashville's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
What money personality fits Nashville?+
The Builder — Steady, long-horizon, and obsessed with foundations.
What's surprising about money in Nashville?+
Nashville added jobs faster than nearly any major US city in the 2020s.
