Nashville metro, TN relocation guide
Moving to Nashville, TN
About Nashville
Nashville ( NASH-vil) is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, located on the Cumberland River. It is the 20th-most populous city in the United States and fourth-most populous city in the Southeast, with a population of 689,447 at the 2020 census (estimated at 721,074 in 2025). The Nashville metropolitan area, with over 2.15 million people, is the 35th-largest metropolitan area in the country. Nashville is among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Named in honor of Francis Nash, a general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, the city was founded in 1779 when this territory was still part of North Carolina. The city quickly grew due to its strategic location as a port on the Cumberland River and, in the 19th century, a railroad center. Nashville as part of Tennessee seceded during the American Civil War; in 1862 it was the first state capital in the Confederacy to be taken by Union forces. It was occupied through the end of the war. After the war, the city gradually reclaimed its stature. It became a center of trade and developed a manufacturing base. Since 1963, Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government, which is composed of six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system. The city is governed by a mayor, a vice mayor, and a 40-member metropolitan council. Thirty-five of the members are elected from single-member districts, while five are elected at-l The state capital and MSA core on the Cumberland River — 'Music City,' the nation's country-music capital and one of its fastest-growing metros. Downtown's honky-tonks, the Ryman, and the Grand Ole Opry sit alongside major healthcare, higher-education, and corporate employers; neighborhoods from Germantown to Green Hills each have their own character.
Home prices in Nashville
The median listing price in Nashville is $598,000.
Top places in Nashville
- Broadway and Lower Broadway
- Ryman Auditorium
- Grand Ole Opry House
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
- Centennial Park and the Parthenon
- The Gulch, Germantown, and 12South
- Nissan Stadium and Bridgestone Arena
- Radnor Lake State Park and the Warner Parks
Commuting from Nashville
- Downtown Nashville is the commute destination — most MSA towns are measured against it.
- WeGo Star commuter rail serves Lebanon and Mt. Juliet; WeGo bus covers the metro. I-24, I-40, I-65, and TN-386 are the main commuter arteries.
Schools in Nashville
Public schools: Metro Nashville Public Schools. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Nashville FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Nashville, TN?
The median listing price in Nashville is $598,000. Median listing price · Realtor.com · September 2026 - How is the commute from Nashville, TN?
Downtown Nashville is the commute destination — most MSA towns are measured against it. - Which school district serves Nashville, TN?
Nashville is served by Metro Nashville Public Schools. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.