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Is moving to Nashville a good idea? {Updated 2022}

If you’re here then you’re probably thinking of moving to Nashville or at least curious about it. And if so, you’re in the perfect place.

This article promises 3 things:

1. the best suburbs for families around the Nashville area.

2. the best suburbs that are further out from the city but still good families.

3. tips for moving to Nashville—things that locals would know about traffic, affordability, or neighborhood vibes.

We want you to know what to expect when moving your family to Nashville.

Nashville is in Davidson County. While there are good schools in the area, overall, Davidson County is not known for its stellar school ratings.

Public school scores are better in:

Williamson County (Franklin area)

Wilson County (Mt. Juliet area)

Sumner County (Hendersonville area)

In this article, when we say neighborhoods are family-friendly, here’s what we mean.

In determining the family-friendly stamp of approval, we are looking at the overall vibe of the area, crime rates, affordability, and amenities for families (parks, trails, public pools, YMCAs, etc.) The blurbs under each neighborhood are things you should know about that area before moving to Nashville.

The following neighborhoods are closest to the Nashville metro area and family-friendly.

Brentwood

About 30 minutes South from downtown, this area has excellent schools, but housing prices are higher. Restaurant and store chains are numerous! Many move to the outskirts of Brentwood in Antioch, rebranding the area as Brantioch.

Mt. Juliet

About 30 minutes East from downtown, this area is FULL of families and every restaurant or big-named box store you could expect. Mt. Juliet has had an influx of new residents, so traffic is pretty bad during morning and evening commutes.

East Nashville

This area has been gentrified over the past decade because of its close proximity to downtown Nashville, around 5-10 minutes. You’ll have new build homes that are $700K+ next to homes that are small brick mid-century ranchers in need of renovation. The restaurant scene is hopping…so are the hipsters. But there has been a surge of families moving into the area. Crime rates are higher than in other parts of the city, which makes the family-friendly badge subjective. If you’re new to big-city life, you may want to skip East Nashville.

Donelson/Hermitage

This part of town is on the cusp of a boom. Housing prices have gone up, but they are still affordable by Nashville standards. There is a train that goes right through this area that runs directly into downtown. So if you work in Nashville and live HERE, the morning and evening commute will be amazing for you. This area is 15 minutes east of downtown Nashville.

Crieve Hall

Twenty minutes south of downtown Nashville is a community called Crieve Hall. Housing prices are higher, around $400K+ for a single family home. However, find some fixer-uppers or homes on the outskirts of the neighborhood in South Nashville and you can benefit from the wildly family-friendly and centrally-located area.

Read more: If you’re new to Nashville, this is your BEST source for weekend getaways and day trip ideas!

These suburbs are further out from the metro area:

Franklin

High home prices but good schools has made Franklin a top choice for many families moving to Nashville. It’s located about 40 minutes south from downtown.

Bellevue

This area is full of new development, shopping, Predator’s ice skating rink, and new-build subdivisions. Bellevue is about 20 minutes southwest from downtown Nashville and the green rolling hills make for some of the prettiest drives in Nashville.

Nolensville

Thirty minutes south of Nashville, this burgeoning community is really taking off. With good schools and new restaurants and stores under construction, many choose Nolensville for its country charm and larger plots of land.

These “hot spots” listed in pink around downtown Nashville are known for development and gentrification.

Even further out, but still affordable and good for families:

Thompson’s Station

Ashland City

Smyrna

Lebanon

Murfreesboro

Hendersonville

Fairview

Don’t miss these tips from Nashville locals:

Don’t choose a home until you drive the morning and evening commute for several days.

“No matter where you work - you may want to try the drive into work before you settle. Nashville is growing and our infrastructure is not keeping up - to be kind. You may not mind a commute, but I have seen many people select a home and find the 1+ hour commute to work is very challenging.”

Decide how often you’ll be coming to downtown Nashville.

How often will you be coming to the city? If not very often, move further away, where housing prices are more affordable.

There are quite a few home-buying incentives in Davidson County.

Ask your realtor about incentives that are available to you if you purchase in certain zip codes. For example, there is down payment assistance up to $15K in select areas of Davidson County.

If you homeschool and you’re moving to Nashville, you should know that the homeschool community here is FANTASTIC!

There are many resources and activities around the Nashville area specifically designed for homeschoolers.

You can homeschool under a private umbrella school (we use Home Life Academy) or you can homeschool under the public school system. If you choose the latter route, you will be subject to testing requirements of your system.

What you should know before moving to Nashville:

Nashville is a hot destination. It’s artsy. It’s full of creatives. There’s magic here. But there’s also traffic, a lack of affordable housing, potholes, and crime. You won’t find a perfect neighborhood that’s immune to the hardships of big-city living.

That being said…

We wouldn’t live anywhere else.

Find the perfect gift for new Nashville residents HERE.

…view more gift ideas!