NashvilleMoney Index September 2026
"No income tax, music to your wallet."
Nashville — Money Index — Key Facts
- 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.
- Cost of Living: 104. Nashville's cost of living sits at 104 — basically the US baseline (100 = US average).
- 54% Own Their Home. Only 54% of Nashville households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- Happiness Score: 71/100. Residents rate life in Nashville a 71/100 — one of the happiest big metros in the country.
- Financial Stress: 50/100. Money stress in Nashville sits at 50/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- 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.
- 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.
- Nashville Quirk. Nashville added jobs faster than nearly any major US city in the 2020s.
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.
