Are you moving to a different city and trying to decide between living in Atlanta or Nashville? If you don’t know where to start, you can begin by understanding the Atlanta vs. Nashville advantages and disadvantages. We understand that this can be a hard decision, especially since both are beautiful cities with vibrant music scenes, breathtaking scenery, renowned attractions, top-rated parks, and major league sports teams. However, you’ll soon find out how each city has its own distinctive characteristics. Â
By considering the benefits and drawbacks, you can better decide which city is most fit for you. Some of the important factors to consider include the city’s cost of living, climate, culture, population, and more. To make things easier for you, we’ve developed this Atlanta and Nashville pros and cons list. While it’s necessary to do further research on your own prior to relocating, this guide acts as an excellent starting point.
Living in Atlanta Pros
Thriving Small Businesses
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or otherwise millennial seeking to start a business, Atlanta is the place to go! While this city is home to the 3rd largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the nation, Atlanta, Georgia is also one of the best places to start a small business due to there being so many Atlanta grants, loans, and business incentives.
If you’re a new business owner, there are plenty of business incubators offering office space and other resources in Atlanta. 43% of the Atlanta population is employed in small businesses, so you’ll never have to worry about a shortage of neat local shops and family-owned restaurants while living in Atlanta! These job opportunities make it a great idea to put your roots down in Atlanta.
Bustling History & Cultural Scene
Atlanta is home to a very diverse culture with a rich history. Regarding the heavily diverse racial demographics, 48.2% of the Atlanta population is black, 39.1% is white, Asians make up 5%, and Hispanics make up 5% as well. In fact, Atlanta is home to the country’s 2nd largest majority-black metro area – the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. In addition to the variety of different ethnic backgrounds, the history here has strong roots considering the city was a crucial spot for the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, now commemorated at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.
Travel Opportunities
The remarkable city of Atlanta is served by the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) – one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. As the 3rd largest airport in the U.S., you can fly to and from 223 different destinations in 45 countries. Atlanta public transportation is also incredibly handy for residents living in the city limits.
Living in Atlanta Cons
Lack of Public Transportation
MARTA serves the city of Atlanta with both bus and rail lines. However, this form of public transportation has few stations and an average commute time of 53 minutes which is inconvenient for many residents. In fact, Atlanta is known to be one of the worst places for using public transit to commute to work. The city also sees a lot of traffic congestion on the roads. However, Atlanta offers residents many bike paths to enjoy.
Crowding
Atlanta has a population of 498,715 and a land area of 135.31 square miles. This leaves a population density of 3,685.7 per square mile, which is far more crowded in comparison to Nashville’s population density of 1,449.1 per square mile. Atlanta's high population density may contribute to the city’s unpleasant traffic conditions. You can always check out the Atlanta Traffic and Road Conditions prior to driving.
Muggy Summers
The Atlanta climate is not always pleasant. Atlanta experiences hot and muggy summers with highs of 90°F and humidity levels around 75%. This heat and moisture attract a substantial amount of ants, mosquitos, and other insects, making Atlanta the 2nd most buggiest city in the U.S.
Living in Nashville Pros
Strong Job Market
If you're searching for vibrant economies, look no further than Nashville. Due to its affordability and abundance of career opportunities, the beautiful city of Nashville is home to one of the best job markets in the country. Nashville’s future job growth is predicted to be 48.3% over the next decade, which is much higher than the national average of 33.5%. Additionally, the unemployment rate here is 4.5%, while the U.S. average is 6%. Nashville offers plenty of job prospects, making it one of the best big cities for finding a job.
Low Cost of Living
If you’re looking for an affordable place to call home with good weather and endless amenities, look no further than Nashville! Despite being a large picturesque city, the cost of living in Nashville is 2% below the U.S. average. The transportation and utilities here fall between 9% and 11% below the national average, which means Nashville is an affordable place to live and raise a family.
Outdoor Activities
Nashville is home to beautiful hardwood forests, wildlife-filled wetlands, and stunning natural waterways such as the Cumberland River, Radnor Lake, and J Percy Priest Reservoir. This leaves many outdoor recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring places like Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area. Nashville further boasts numerous expansive greenways, which account for the abundance of golf courses and urban recreation areas such as Centennial Park and Radnor Lake State Park.
Living in Nashville Cons
High Crime Rate
The crime rate in Nashville is around 123% higher than the national average and 65% higher than the Tennessee average. Likewise, the Nashville TN crime rate is 5,114 total crimes per 100,000 people.
High Housing Prices
While the overall cost of living in Nashville might be affordable, the home prices here are above average. The median home price in Nashville is $431,000, which is $70,900 above the Tennessee median.
Average Schools
Unlike Atlanta, Nashville is a few steps behind when it comes to public education. This is likely due to low school funding and underpaid teachers. In fact, many Nashville schools rank the worst in the state. The average ranking of schools in Nashville is 2/10, which sits in the low half of the state’s public schools.
The Cost of Living in Atlanta vs. Nashville
Both Atlanta and Nashville have very similar costs of living. All in all, the cost of living in Atlanta is slightly higher. On Numbeo, Atlanta is shown to beat Nashville in several categories, including food and rent, whereas Nashville tends to have more affordable transportation and utility costs. Below is a list of typical living expenses that show how Atlanta versus Nashville varies in price:
- The overall cost of living in Nashville is around 4% lower than in Atlanta
- Public transportation in Nashville is 10% lower than in Atlanta
- Basic utilities in Nashville are 4.6% lower than in Atlanta
- Local purchasing power in Nashville is 13.8% lower than in Atlanta
- Rent prices in Atlanta are 6% lower than in Nashville
- Restaurant prices in Atlanta are 11.4% lower than in Nashville
- Grocery prices in Atlanta are 11% lower than in Nashville
While it’s hard to tell exactly which city wins the cost of living rivalry, Nashville is slightly in favor. However, the average monthly net salary in Atlanta is over $400 more than in Nashville, which evens them out.
Additional Things to Consider Between Atlanta vs. Nashville
Population
When comparing living in Atlanta versus Nashville, you'll want to consider the population. There are over 190,000 more people living in Nashville than in Atlanta. The land area in Atlanta is over 340 square feet less than in Nashville, which makes Atlanta over 154% more densely crowded than Nashville.
Crime rate in Atlanta vs. Nashville
Curious about the differentiation between the crime rate in Atlanta vs. Nashville? Atlanta offers a much lower crime rate. The crime rate in Nashville is 123% higher than the national average, as opposed to Atlanta, where the crime rate is 24% lower.
Atlanta vs. Nashville Climate
The weather difference between Atlanta vs. Nashville’s climates is very similar. Atlanta gets a few more inches of rain than Nashville, yet Atlanta receives more sunny days and is slightly warmer in the winter. Nashville sees four inches of snowfall, while Atlanta gets no more than an inch. Unless you're in the heat of July, the weather is comfortable in both Atlanta and Nashville – especially in May, September, and October. Unlike Atlanta, Nashville does not get too muggy in the summer.
Atlanta to Nashville Distance
If you’re wondering how far it is from the Atlanta to Nashville city limits, the distance from Atlanta to Nashville is 250 miles southeast – about 4 hours of driving. The best ways to get from city to city are by car, bus via Greyhound USA or Vonlane, or plane via Delta and Southwest Airlines.
Culture/Things to Do in Atlanta vs. Nashville
As state capitols, both cities are recognized for having exceptional dining, friendly locals, and high value for music and entertainment. Nashville offers several fun attractions, like the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, Broadway Street, Nissan Stadium, and live music venues. Atlanta is full of historic sites like Zoo Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Downtown Atlanta. Atlanta is easily one of the most bustling southern cities, with a great entertainment and nightlife scene. Both big cities are popular spots for tourism, so you'll always find something to do.
Nonetheless, Atlanta has more of a safe, relaxed, historical, and diverse culture, whereas Nashville is seen as a picturesque and hospitable city that is constantly growing and thriving. Regardless, these great cities both offer fun things to do.
Atlanta vs. Nashville: Where Are You Moving?
Now that you have a better understanding of living in Atlanta versus Nashville pros and cons and ups and downs, you can better decide if Atlanta or Nashville is the best fit for you and your lifestyle.
If the safe and diverse atmosphere of Atlanta is calling your name, our team at Wirks Moving is more than happy to help get you to your new home. We’ll make sure your journey is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Moving to a new city is a big deal, and we want to make you comfortable throughout the entire journey. To get started, reach out to our dedicated and professional crew at (404) 635-6683 today!
