Cost Of Living: Nashville Vs Franklin For Homebuyers

Trying to choose between Nashville and Franklin’s 37064 ZIP code for your next home? You are not alone. Both offer great lifestyles, but the day-to-day costs can feel very different once you add up housing, taxes, utilities, commuting, and more. This guide helps you compare real-world monthly budgets, understand trade-offs, and create a plan that fits your life. Let’s dive in.

How to compare cost of living

A smart comparison looks at your total monthly spend, not just list prices. Use this simple framework:

• Housing cost: price, price per square foot, and competitiveness.
• Recurring housing costs: property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA, and closing costs.
• Utilities and communications: electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, internet.
• Transportation: commute time, fuel, parking, and public transit.
• Lifestyle: schools, safety, amenities, and long-term resale.

Pull current data, then build a sample monthly budget for each location. The American Community Survey is a reliable starting point for commute patterns and housing context.

Housing costs: Franklin 37064 vs Nashville

Big picture: Franklin, especially 37064 in Williamson County, typically posts higher median prices and price per square foot than the broader Nashville market. You will often see newer subdivisions, larger lots, and more HOA-managed neighborhoods in Franklin. Nashville includes a wide mix of urban condos, historic homes, and suburban options, which creates more diversity in price and property type.

What influences your monthly payment:

• Home price and down payment.
• Interest rate and loan type.
• Property taxes, insurance, and HOA dues.

How to check live pricing without guesswork:

• Ask your agent for recent comps in 37064 and your target Nashville neighborhoods, including price per square foot and days on market.
• Review active and pending listings to understand HOA prevalence for each community.
• Note that condos in Nashville may have higher monthly dues than many single-family HOAs in Franklin, while Franklin HOAs are common in newer subdivisions.

Taxes, insurance, and HOA fees

Property taxes in Tennessee are set locally and calculated using assessed value, an assessment ratio, and the local rate. Because rates and assessments differ by county and city, compare using example homes rather than a single percentage.

• Williamson County resources: Look up tax methods and bills on the Williamson County site.
• Davidson County resources: See assessor and tax information at Metro Nashville.

Homeowners insurance varies by property age, size, replacement cost, and risk factors like flood. Review FEMA maps and request quotes for the specific addresses you are considering.

• Flood zone review: Use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to check whether a property may require flood insurance.

HOA and condo fees reflect amenities and shared services. In Franklin, many subdivisions include amenities such as pools, trails, and pocket parks. In-town Nashville condos often cover building insurance and services, which can result in higher dues. Verify current fees in the listing disclosures and budget for them in your monthly payment.

Closing costs and recording fees differ by county and lender program. Ask your lender for a fee worksheet for each scenario so you can compare apples to apples.

Utilities and monthly bills

Utility costs depend on usage, home size, and provider. Here is how to evaluate them:

• Electricity and gas: Start with state averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Then adjust for your home’s age, insulation, HVAC, and square footage.
• Water, sewer, and trash: Check local rate schedules for each city.
  • Franklin services and billing: City of Franklin Utilities
  • Nashville services: Metro’s utility information is at Nashville.gov
• Internet: Availability of fiber can vary by street. Use provider availability tools and the FCC broadband map to confirm speeds for a specific address.

Tip: Build a low, medium, and high usage estimate so you are not surprised by summer cooling or winter heating spikes.

Commute and transportation

Your time has a cost. If you plan to work in Nashville’s core, factor in both minutes and miles.

• Commute time: From Franklin 37064 to downtown Nashville, typical peak driving times commonly range from about 25 to 45 minutes each way depending on route and time of day. You can review regional commute patterns through the American Community Survey and test your exact route during rush hour.
• Public transit: Metro Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit offers bus service within Nashville. Regional commuter options from Franklin are limited compared to in-town neighborhoods, so many Franklin residents drive, carpool, or telecommute.
• Parking and extras: Add daily parking for downtown jobs, plus routine car costs like fuel, insurance, maintenance, and registration.

If you telework most days and only commute a few times a week, the Franklin premium for space and schools may pencil out differently than for a daily commuter.

Schools, safety, and lifestyle

Schools: Williamson County Schools, which serve most of Franklin and 37064, are widely known in Tennessee. Always verify current zoning and performance using the Tennessee Department of Education school report cards and district maps. Nashville’s Davidson County offers a range of public, magnet, charter, and private options. Compare specific school programs and transportation options for addresses on your shortlist.

Safety: Crime can vary by neighborhood and even by block. Review official reporting and compare address-by-address trends using the FBI Crime Data Explorer and local police department pages.

Lifestyle and amenities: Franklin is known for its historic downtown, festivals, parks, and a neighborhood feel. Nashville offers a larger cultural scene with music, arts, universities, and pro sports. Walkability is often higher in certain in-town Nashville neighborhoods, while Franklin’s newer subdivisions tend to prioritize community amenities and green space.

Resale: Williamson County has shown strong long-term demand, partly due to schools and limited land supply. In Nashville, resale depends on specific neighborhood trends and proximity to employers, hospitals, universities, and entertainment. Ask for a resale risk review that includes days on market, list-to-sale ratios, and new construction nearby.

What your budget buys in 37064 vs Nashville

Use this quick exercise to compare:

1. Identify three homes you like in 37064 and three in your target Nashville area. Note price, size, age, lot size, and HOA dues.
2. Build a monthly payment for each: principal and interest, property tax, homeowners insurance, HOA or condo dues.
3. Add average utilities for that square footage and build age.
4. Add commute costs for your work pattern: fuel, parking, and vehicle wear.
5. Consider lifestyle extras: gym memberships, after-school programs, or park fees you might save or add based on location.

This shows the real monthly gap between the two choices, not just the list price difference.

Franklin 37064 vs Nashville: quick snapshot

• Housing stock: Franklin often features newer single-family homes and HOA communities. Nashville offers more urban condos, historic cottages, and mixed-use living.
• Monthly costs: Franklin often carries higher purchase prices; total monthly spend can still work if HOA and commute costs are lower for your situation. Nashville may offer lower purchase prices in some areas, with higher condo dues or parking costs.
• Commute and transit: Franklin commutes to downtown are usually 25 to 45 minutes. In-town Nashville commuters may have shorter trips or bus options via WeGo.
• Schools and programs: Check address-specific school assignments and performance on the state portal.
• Risk checks: Use FEMA flood maps and crime data for any address you are considering.

Your step-by-step decision plan

• Define your max monthly budget including mortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA, utilities, and commute.
• Pick your top three priorities: schools, yard size, commute time, walkability, or amenities.
• Test the commute from each finalist neighborhood during your rush hour.
• Verify school zoning and review state report cards for those addresses.
• Pull a property tax estimate for a typical home in each area using county websites.
• Order homeowners insurance quotes for the properties you like most and confirm whether flood insurance is required.
• Walk the neighborhood at different times of day to confirm the lifestyle fit.

When you want local comps, address-specific costs, and a clear path to contract, we are here to help. Reach out to schedule a planning call and we will tailor these numbers to your move.

Ready to compare real numbers for homes in Franklin and Nashville? Connect with Camille Birkhead for a personalized cost-of-living breakdown and on-the-ground neighborhood insight.

FAQs

How do home prices compare in Franklin 37064 and Nashville?

• Franklin often has higher median prices and price per square foot than the broader Nashville market; ask for current comps and price-per-square-foot data for your target neighborhoods to see the exact gap.

Are property taxes higher in Williamson County or Davidson County?

• Taxes depend on assessed value, assessment ratio, and local rates; use the Williamson County and Metro Nashville sites to estimate annual taxes for example homes in each location.

What is the typical commute from 37064 to downtown Nashville?

• Many residents report about 25 to 45 minutes each way during peak hours; confirm patterns with the American Community Survey and test your route at your normal commute time.

Is public transit practical from Franklin to Nashville?

• Transit is more limited from Franklin compared to in-town neighborhoods; review routes and options with WeGo Public Transit and consider park-and-ride, carpooling, or hybrid telework schedules.

How can I estimate monthly utilities for each area?

• Start with state averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, then check rate pages for City of Franklin Utilities and Metro services on Nashville.gov to build low, medium, and high usage scenarios.

Where can I compare schools for specific addresses?

• Verify zoning with each district and review performance on the Tennessee Department of Education school report cards for a neutral, statewide comparison.

How do I evaluate flood or crime risk before I make an offer?

• Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center for flood risk and the FBI Crime Data Explorer for crime trends, then add neighborhood context from local police pages and your agent’s on-the-ground knowledge.