Where People Moving to Nashville Actually End Up

Most people start with Nashville.

That’s the name they know.

The idea they’ve built in their head.

Music City. Energy. Opportunity. Culture...with a little Country thrown in.

And for some, that’s exactly where they land. If you're moving from somewhere like Los Angeles or Chicago, the ever growing metropolitan features of Nashville are possibly what attracted you in the first place. 

People relocating from smaller towns throughout the South are certainly looking for big city life or the big city jobs that Nashville continues to produce.

But not everyone relocating to the Nashville area is moving for more city life, in fact it's often just the opposite.

If you are already set on where you want to move feel free to jump ahead to our Middle Tennessee Relocation page.

Nashville today is a real city.

It’s not just country music, honey tonks and a few downtown streets anymore. It’s grown into a place with density, traffic patterns, neighborhoods, and a pace that feels much closer to other major cities than people expect. Its known for country bars and tourism but has grown to be a hot spot for job growth, corporate relocation, institutional education, health care, a renowned food and fine dining culture and a vibrant art scene. 

These are often some of the reasons someone moving from Los Angeles to Tennessee likely starts by looking at the city of Nashville. It has what they need without what they don't.

In Nashville you’ll find a variety of neighborhoods with unique personalities:

• Downtown, Sobro and The Gulch with city high-rises and condo living 
• 12 South with restaurants, boutiques, and steady foot traffic mixed with historic craftsman homes.
• The Nations and Wedgewood Houston areas turn former industrial and commercial neighborhoods into lively modern semi-urban spaces filled with new construction townhomes and condominiums in a non-traditional setting.
• East Nashville—creative, active, and constantly evolving featuring the trendiest restuarants and bars, fun record stores and a cool art scene.
• Germantown—walkable, polished, and close to downtown. A great combination of old and new.
• Sylvan Park maintains a charming historic neighborhood feel while mixing in new construction and modern dining options. 
• Forrest Hills, Green Hills and Belle Meade-  established city suburbs with southern charm spread across a variety of large classic estates and upscale new construction estates.

And beyond a variety of eclectic neighborhood choices, Nashville offers:

• Professional sports (NFL, NHL, MLS) 
• Major events and entertainment 
• World-class music venues—from small listening rooms to arenas. 
• Major Economic Development and employment growth.

For people who want city life, Nashville delivers:

Walkability. Restaurants. Nightlife. Events. Energy.

But a lot of people moving here—especially from larger metro areas—realize pretty quickly that what they actually want is something a little different.

A pattern shows up over and over.

People say they’re moving to Nashville.

But what they’re picturing often isn’t truly urban. They are equating Nashville to country. Not just music, but country living. A slower pace.

They are imagining:

• More space 
• A quieter environment 
• Some distance from the pace of the city 
• Still close enough to go in when they want to 

And very often, there’s another layer to it.

What they really have in mind is something that feels more like rural country living.

• Open land 
• Horses 
• Space to spread out 
• A slower, more rural pace 

The interesting part is that many people start with that vision—
but adjust once they understand how things actually line up.

I often get requests for very large properties, in a rural setting with a big house and a short drive to Nashville. 

That’s usually where price, location, and space start to intersect:
Home Price Comparison (LA vs Nashville)

Once a shift towards family community, more property and larger homes happens, two areas come up almost immediately:

• Franklin, Tennessee 
• Brentwood, Tennessee 

And there’s a reason for that.

Both sit within Williamson County, and that tends to drive a lot of the decision—whether people realize it at first or not. Williamson county communities and services are some of the most desired in the region. Sitting outside the Nashville metro area and Davidson County jurisdiction, Williamson County offers some of the best communities in the state. Top reasons include:

• Well-regarded public schools 
• Excellent Parks and Recreational services.
• Historic towns and landmarks
• Youth Sports 
• Major shopping districts
• Hubs for local employment 
• Long-term market stability 
• Consistent demand across different price points 
• Southern charm and rural settings

For many families, that combination quietly moves these two areas to the top of the list.

Just as importantly, this area isn’t only residential—it’s supported by one of the largest commercial and lifestyle hubs in Middle Tennessee:

• Cool Springs and the surrounding Cool Springs commercial area which spans a large portion of Brentwood and Franklin.

This area includes:

• Major employers and office parks 
• Dozens of restuarant and dining options 
• Malls, independent stores and big box retail
• Medical and daily services 
• Walkable Mixed-use communities 

It’s part of what makes living in Franklin and Brentwood practical—not just appealing.

Franklin is often called a Hallmark town and for good reason. Besides the fact that a few Hallmark movies have been filmed here, you will certainly feel like you're in one when you visit. 

The national popularity of Franklin, Tennessee has grown so much that it generates a great deal of relocation inquiries independent of Nashville. While many great middle Tennessee communities are discovered by buyers after exploring Nashville, Franklin draws almost as many people directly as Nashville itself. 

Many of the buyers we help relocate start with Franklin and immediately find its exactly what they are looking for. Others adjust according to budget or lifestyle as we introduce them to more surrounding communities.

Before anything else, people experience Downtown Franklin.

And it changes the conversation.

The square, anchored by the historic courthouse, feels like something out of another time—but it’s fully active.

Main Street isn’t just for show.

It’s used. Daily.

Coffee in the morning.

Restaurants that actually fill up at night.

Local stores, not just chains.

And then there are the events:

• Seasonal festivals that shut down the streets 
• Art crawls and live music 
• Holiday celebrations that feel like the whole town shows up 
• A haven for antique lovers.
• A destination for history buffs 

It’s not manufactured.

It’s not trying to be something.

It’s real, everyday living.

For a lot of people moving from out of state, this is where things shift.

They came looking for Nashville.
But this feels closer to what they had in mind.

Structured, walkable, suburban communities:

Westhaven 

The Community of Westhaven offer a connected neighborhood feel—sidewalks, a town center, restaurants, golf, multiple pools and everyday convenience built right into the design.

It’s not just layout—it’s lifestyle.

Westhaven includes:

• Multiple pools 
• A golf club 
• Shopping and dining
• Top ranked Williamson County Schools
• Senior living options 
• Parks, trails, and community gathering spaces 

It’s a more complete version of suburban living—where a lot of what people want is already built into the neighborhood.

Berry Farms 

Another renowned Franklin planned community is Berry Farms which sits at the southern end of greater Franklin.

Berry Farms features new homes, apartments, hotels, restaurants, grocery and retail shopping in a beautiful, walkable planned community. A recent addition is the Tennessee flagship location for In-N-Out Burger.

Temple Hills

Now one of the older established subdivisions in greater Franklin, the community of Temple Hills offers large homes on generous lots. The community is centered around the Temple Hills Country Club which offers 27 holes of golf, tennis and swimming facilities.

These are just a few examples of the neighborhoods that stand out in Franklin

Franklin, though, isn’t defined by any one community but a vast collection of choice subdivisions.

It includes dozens of established neighborhoods, a wide range of newer developments—some with hoa's and amenities, some spaced out and more rural, each with its own feel, layout, and approach to space, design, and lifestyle.

For some, that structure and convenience is exactly the appeal.

For others, it’s just one end of the spectrum.

Suburban that starts to feel more open:

Move a little further out and things shift—homes sit on larger lots, there’s more space between neighbors, and the pace slows down a bit.  There are several neighborhoods on the outskirts of Franklin where suburban and rural start to blend together.  

Ask me about Forest Home Farms, Montpier Farms and similar neighborhoods where you can experience a blend of privacy and convenience that is suburban while also feeling very rural.

Fully rural lifestyle tied to Franklin:

The first place I ever visited in middle Tennessee was the sleepy village of Liepers Fork. 

Years later that little farm town has become an enclave for country music elite, celebrities and public figures who seek the privacy and tranquility of the rolling hillsides and manicured pastures. 

The village itself is a picture of country charm, an antique lovers dream and one of the most popular day trip destinations in Middle Tennessee. 

If your Tennessee real estate dream includes rolling acres and breathtaking farmhouses Leipers Fork does not disappoint.

Areas like Leipers Fork move fully into acreage, farms, and open land. It’s quieter, more private, and less about neighborhood living.

What most people don’t realize at the beginning is that all of these diffferent Franklin lifestyles exist within the same general area.

And the decision usually isn’t “Franklin or not”—

it’s which version of it actually fits the way you want to live.

Brentwood sits just north of Franklin and closest to the city of Nashville. Its one of the original upscale suburbs and has everything you could ask for from suburban living. 

It’s known for being:

• Well Established 
• Quiet 
• Consistent in character 

Brentwood features prominent country clubs, tennis centers, parks, recreation and shopping.

Access to a selection of renowned private schools and academies plus zoned for some of the best public schools in the state of Tennessee.  

(To be accurate schools are excellent across all of Williamson county , including Franklin Spring Hill and Thompson Station.)

The neighborhoods are mature, well-kept, and tend to follow a similar standard throughout the area.

There’s a level of continuity to Brentwood that people notice once they spend time there—it feels steady and intentionally maintained. 

Someone moving from an upscale suburb in Los Angeles or New Jersey might enjoy the consistency that Brentwood neighborhoods provide.

Homes are generally larger, lots are well-sized, and the overall environment leans toward privacy and space while still being part of a suburban setting.

Brentwood also offers:

• Quick access to Nashville 
• Close proximity to Cool Springs for daily life 
• Country clubs and private amenities 
• A refined, residential feel that stays consistent throughout the area 
• Rural accents and scenery that reminds residents of its country roots.

For those who want something established and consistent, Brentwood tends to fit naturally.

Outside of Nashville, Franklin and Brentwood are often the initial target for home buyers. Name, establishment, services and schools often drive that.

But as people look at pricing, available homes, and how much space or land they want, they sharpen their pencils, and the search expands outward. 

• Spring Hill, Tennessee 
• Thompson’s Station, Tennessee 

These areas offer:

Spring Hill:

• Newer homes 
• More inventory 
• Strong suburban infrastructure 
• Williamson County Schools
• Suburban shopping and big box stores.
• Restaurants and Retail 
• Storied History 
• Parks , Recreation and Golf

Thompson’s Station:

• Quieter 
• Larger lots mixed into neighborhoods 
• A blend of suburban living with rural edges 
• Still large areas of rural farmland with close proximity to Spring Hill shopping. 
• Closest to Franklin.

For many buyers, this is where suburban living starts to include more breathing room, larger homes, more attractive price points.

• Columbia, Tennessee 
• Maury County, Tennessee 

About 45 minutes south of Nashville.

Maury County and Columbia are often where todays buyers start searching when they are looking for real acreage.  Pricing and Brentwood, Franklin and Liepers Fork have a very steep entry point for multi acre parcels. Maury County has started to fill that void.

This area offers more than just land however. 

Columbia , and it's town square , similar to the one found in Franklin, have\nGrown and evolved faster than almost anything else in the area over recent years. 

Yes, you’ll find:

• Larger parcels 
• Farms 
• Open space 
• Herritage Tennessee feel
• Reasonable access to Nashville 
• Modern, Suburban shopping centers

But Columbia also offers something familiar—just at a different pace.

A historic downtown square with:

• Local owned shops and restaurants 
• A growing food and retail scene with boutiques, upscale bars , brew pubs , distilleries , coffee shops , barbecue restaurants , steakhouses and more.
• A setting that feels authentic and lived-in 

For many, it carries a similar kind of charm to Franklin—just:

• Slower 
• Less crowded 
• More accessible 
• Strong sense of community

For years , people have been saying Columbia is the next Franklin...  if you look at Columbia today versus ten years ago , I might say they are right.

And for many, this is where cost and lifestyle start to align:
Cost of Living (CA vs TN)

As we show buyers, the broader middle Tennessee area.There are many more choices to add to this list. Nolanville and fairview are other common alternatives to Brentwood and Franklin.

To the north and east of Nashville , outside of Williamson and Davidson county, many buyers also explore Mount Juliet and Hendersonville.

Most people don’t choose a place right away.

They start broad.

Then narrow based on how they actually want to live.

• City vs. space 
• Proximity vs. privacy 
• Schools vs. flexibility 
• Neighborhood vs. acreage 

Different areas solve those in different ways.

People aim for Nashville.

But where they end up usually reflects how they balance:

• Urban access 
• Suburban convenience 
• Space 
• Lifestyle 

Franklin often becomes the reference point.

Not always the final answer—but where most comparisons begin.

From there , we help buyers explore the many different communities that make MiddleTennessee unique.

LA To Nashville moves can mean a lot of different things to different people. Coming from the Northeast or Midwest may give you a different perspective. 

Most people don’t start with a perfect answer.

They start with a general idea—and refine it once they see what’s actually available.

If you’re working through that process from Los Angeles or California: 

CA → TN Relocation Brief

Our Full Relocation Overview is applicable to everyone:

California to Tennessee Relocation Overview

Buyers looking for a primary residence, investment and other unique purchases in Tennessee:

Out-of-State Buyers Overview 

Real estate referral partners can learn more about how we handle out of state Nashville moves through our agent referral page.