Moving Guide for Nashville
Known best for being Music City, USA, Nashville is a thriving city in the heart of the American South. Home to the nation’s third-fastest-growing economy, Nashville bounced back from the Great Recession to become an “It City” just 10 years after the financial meltdown. Nashville has its share of six-string guitar pickers and rhinestones, but it’s also one of the fastest growing, most bustling cities in the US. Come for the music, but stay for everything else.
Schools
Nashville’s elementary ,middle, and high schools are governed by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, which is often referred to simply as Metro Schools. Metro Schools oversees 73 elementary schools, 33 middle schools, 25 high schools, 18 charter schools, and 8 speciality schools. For parents who prefer private education, Nashville features a number of secular and Christian schools serving students in grades K-12.
Nashville is sometimes affectionately called “the Athens of the South” because it is such a center for higher education. It is home to more than a dozen colleges and universities, including four historically black institutions. Within Nashville you’ll find private institutions such as Vanderbilt University and Belmont University, along with public institutions such as Tennessee State University and Nashville State Community College. A number of Christian colleges, including American Baptist College and Welch College, are also located in Nashville. Murpheesboro, just 30 miles down the road, is home to Middle Tennessee State University as well.
Jobs
Nashville is considered one of the hottest job markets in the United States as of early 2019. It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the United States, with rates below 3% for much of 2018. This is considerably lower than the national average rate of around 4% in the same time, and is the lowest of any major metropolitan area in the US. The low unemployment rate means that employers may struggle to hire, giving those seeking jobs an edge in negotiations at hire.
While the music industry, especially recording and promotion, has been a major force in the Nashville economy for decades, in fact the job market is increasingly diversified. Tourism and hospitality are major industries, but Nashville is also a center for healthcare, for-profit prisons, and insurance. Real estate is also an increasingly important factor in the employment and overall economy of the city. Major employers in Nashville include Bridgestone, Ernst & Young, Community Health Systems, Deloit, Tractor Supply Company, and Dollar General.
Entertainment
Nashville is synonymous with country music, and much of the city’s entertainment and nightlife do revolve around its music scene. On any given night, you can see a national recording artist or an up-and-coming band at any of the city’s venues. Alongside famous sites like the Ryman Auditorium you’ll find small clubs and bars where you can catch the next big star. But Nashville also offers more than just guitars and twang. It is home to several annual festivals, from Rock n Roll Nashville Fashion Week to the Rites of Spring Music Festival. If you’d rather take in a museum, you can choose the Johnny Cash Museum, the Tennessee State Museum, or the National Museum of African American Music, among others. You’ll also find a full-scale replica of the Parthenon, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and several well-preserved pre-Civil War plantations in Nashville.
The city is home to two major league sports franchises: the NFL Tennessee Titans and the NHL Nashville Predators. In 2020, MLS team Nashville SC will begin play. Minor league sports are also to be found in Nashville: take in baseball with the Nashville Sounds or USL soccer with Nashville SC.
Food
You can’t say you’ve eaten in Nashville until you’ve had the signature Nashville hot chicken! Fried, spicy, with pickles — it’s a local delicacy. Other local favorites include barbecue — and in Tennessee, barbecue means hickory smoke and pork, so be sure to have the pulled pork and the baby back ribs. Hot fish is Nashville staple as well. You’ll find all manner of Southern classics in this city.
It might be known for down-home cooking, but Nashville is known for being a foodie town. You’ll find fine dining, elegant cocktails, and various kinds of ethnic cuisine right next to your hot chicken wings, macaroni and cheese, and “meat and three” barbecue plate. A thriving food truck scene, lavish brunches, and (unexpectedly!) vegan cuisine are all ready options in Music City.
Housing Market
The Nashville housing market is relatively stable. Housing prices have risen 7.7% over the past year (as of early 2019) and are expected to continue to grow. The city’s hot economy means that many people are relocating and looking for homes, but currently the market is not classified as either a buyers or a sellers market. The median listed house price in Nashville is $318,000, while the median house value is $264,000. The median price for homes sold is $264,000. The average price per square foot for a house in the city is $192. Moving into the suburbs will get you a lower per square foot rate of $162.
If you prefer to rent, you’re looking at rates on par with much of the country. The rental rate in Nashville is around $1650 per month. Moving out into the greater metro area will save you, though not a lot; median rental rate outside the city proper is $1600 per month.
Public Transit
Like many American cities, Nashville is a driving city rather than a walking or public transit city. Nearly 80% of Nashville residents commute solely by car. Downtown is relatively walkable, but Nashville’s overall walkability score is low. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in your car.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority provides bus service within Nashville. All routes have to go through a downtown hub, which adds time to many bus commutes and makes them impractical or impossible. There have been attempts to add light rail and express service to the MTA’s offering, but these have not been successful. There is limited commuter rail service to surrounding cities.
The city is home to Nashville International Airport for those seeking to travel longer distances. While the city is served by Amtrak, there is no passenger services; train service is for freight only. You can travel to and from Nashville by both Greyhound Bus and Megabus.
Uber, Lyft, and taxi cabs are all available in Nashville. You will need to book your taxi by calling ahead, booking online, or booking through an app; you cannot hail a cab on the street.
Weather
Nashville’s climate is humid subtropical. Like much of the South, it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The city gets about 47 inches of rainfall annually.
Winter: Winters in Nashville are mild and short. Winter runs from late November to early March. Rainfall is heavier during this time, with snow possible but not heavy. Average snowfall for the city is 6.3 inches. Snow is more likely to fall in January and February, and rain in November and December. Average winter high temperatures range from the mid-40s to 60 degrees. Average lows are in the 30s and 40s.
Spring: Spring is long and wet in Nashville, which makes it difficult for those with seasonal allergies. Running from March til early June, spring features mild and pleasant temperatures. Highs average in the 70s until mid-June when they get into the 80s. Lows average in the 50s and low 60s. May is the wettest month, with about 5.5 inches of rainfall.
Summer: Summers are, as they say, sultry in Nashville. While the temperatures don’t often rise above 90 degrees, humidity can get as high as 83%. The urban heat island effect can also mean that downtown and other areas of high building concentration are uncomfortably hot. Despite the humidity, not much rain falls during the summer, which runs from June to September.
Fall: Like spring, fall in Nashville is pleasant, though it can pose difficulties for allergies sufferers. Humidity drops and temperatures range from the low 80s to high 60s for highs, and the low 60s to mid-30s for lows. Rainfall picks up a bit, with a little over 4 inches per month falling in this season.
Music City has a lot to offer! As you make your plan to move to Nashville, rest assured that Simply Self Storage is here to help with all your moving and storage needs.
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