Moving To Nashville: 24 Things You Need To Know

If you’re considering moving to Nashville, there are a ton of things you’ll need to know. But we’re not here to write a book, so we’ll stick with giving you twenty-four facts everyone should know about Nashville. Why that number? I-24 runs through Nashville. Choosing a number based on I-40, I-65, or US-41 would have turned this from an article into a full-length book. So twenty-four it is!

#24 – Everyone Else Is Moving Here Too

That’s right, you’re not the only one with a great idea. You’ll find stiff competition for decent apartments in many areas. It’s not San Francisco or anything, but there are plenty of other people who want to live here too. On one hand, it sort of validates your decision to come here, because if everybody else is jumping off a bridge… Wait, that’s not how it works, is it? We think not.

Joking aside, the number of people moving to Nashville in droves does speak to the quality of life in the city. The local economy and the lifestyle in general are all positive. The local drivers aren’t bad, most tourists have the sense not to drive downtown, and there’s always something to do after work. It’s a great place to live!

If you’re really lucky, maybe you’ll be roommates with the next Blake Shelton when you move to Nashville! And when you get your apartment, make sure you get Nashville Renters Insurance to protect it. Chances are pretty good that your landlord will require it, and you don’t want to be caught paying for a loss out-of-pocket–especially after a big move across the country!  Most people can buy renters insurance in Tennessee for about fifteen bucks a month, so it’s definitely not a major expenditure.

#23 – If You Want To Sing, You’ll Have Some Competition

But you probably knew that already. You’ve undoubtedly been looking at Craigslist for apartments and to get an idea of what the local job market looks like (pretty decent). While you’re there, you should check out Craigslist’s section for musicians. This section is extremely helpful for people who are looking to sing, find the perfect band member, or find a gig.

And with all the singers, band members, and people who make music happen in this city, everybody’s your friend, you can never be sure. Showbusiness can be cutthroat for sure, especially when competition is fierce. In Nashville, there’s always a gamble, but everything in life is, really.

#22 – Hot Chicken

Nothing else needs to be said.

If you’re not from around here, hot chicken is a cayenne-peppered, fried chicken. Once you’ve tried it you’ll just never look at fried chicken the same way again. But be warned, although you can find it on nearly any menu in the city, not all hot chicken is created equal. We suggest Prince’s Hot Chicken for a tasty introduction.

Just make sure your mouth is smarter than your pride! A “medium” hot chicken tender at Prince’s might be a bit hot for a first-timer, but you’ll survive–well, maybe. Rumor has it the last person who didn’t survive a hot chicken was a Brit who wasn’t used to much of any taste in his food. Maybe that might explain the ambulance call.

If you’re a hot chicken virgin, avoid asking for it hot. Hot will put you on your knees, and that’s if your knees don’t melt before you get to them. As for extra hot… Don’t say we didn’t warn you! On that note, we should also warn you about the lines. Each and every piece of hot chicken is cooked to order, and a wait of a few hours is not unheard of. You plan your day around a trip to Prince’s, you don’t plan a trip to Prince’s around your day.

#21 – Politics Can Be A Testy Topic

Nashville (and Davidson County) are pretty solidly Democratic. Not edgy liberal Democratic, mind you. Sensible Southern Democratic with a great deal of conviction, but also a great deal of thought behind those beliefs. As to the rest of the state, well, suffice to say they didn’t vote for Bernie in 2016.

Politics aren’t an off-limits topic by any means, but it’s good to know what you’re getting yourself in for when you open that conversational door.

#20 – Nashville Is A Diverse City That Welcomes Immigrants

Yes, we know what Haslam said about Syrian refugees. We also know that he really has no actual power to keep them out, even if the good people of Tennessee wanted him to (by and large, they don’t).  Nashville has a long history of welcoming people to the city, especially people who were under duress in their own countries. About two-thirds of all Kurdish people in America live in and around Nashville. That amounts to well over 10,000 people.

It sort of makes sense, if you think about it. Nashville has always welcomed anyone who wants to come and give music a shot. No guarantees are made, and you’ll have to make it on your own, so it makes sense that the city would have a similar attitude towards those who want opportunities of a different kind.

#19 – There’s Nothing Like The View From The Cheap Seats

Nashville has pro football and pro hockey, and neither team is bad…usually. But there’s also a minor league baseball team that even some natives don’t know exists. You can get a cheap night out at a Nashville Sounds game, and you never know, someone you see play today might get called up to the Brewers tomorrow!

#18 – Bet You Don’t Know What Kix Is Up To These Days

Kix Brooks (yes, that Kix Brooks, one half of Brooks and Dunn) owns Arrington Vineyards just outside the city. Not only are there great views, but positive things have been said about the wine, as well. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with a few friends.

#17 – You’ll Be Driving

Not that Nashville hasn’t made an effort to improve public transportation, but the city is largely set up around the idea that you can get yourself where you need to go. You’ll want to plan to drive just about everywhere. And yes, that means learning the highways. The good news is those highways are actually not all that concerning. The drivers are decent, and most of the merges are fairly tame.

#16 – No Matter Where You’re Headed, Don’t Expect Briley Parkway To Be A Shortcut

With several exits for Opryland and the massive commercialization and shopping that surrounds it, you can’t reasonably expect to get past all of it that quickly. It comes down to this; If you’re on the wrong side of Exit 12 relative to where you want to go, there’s probably a faster way to get there than Briley Parkway.

It’s also good to remember that most of the road is limited access highway, although there are stretches where that’s not the case. And there are stoplights. Plan accordingly.

#15 – Nashville Has Many Jobs

Let’s face it, the same can’t be said of every city in America. Not only does Nashville have jobs available now, but growth is projected to last into the foreseeable future. Sure, the usual tourism sector work is available, but there are plenty of career paths open to you. Some have said that finding housing here is a bigger challenge than finding a job.

#14 – Google Fiber Has Arrived In Nashville

Enjoy amazing internet speeds which are not offered in every city and town. If you work remotely, that alone is a reason for moving to Nashville in and of itself!

#13 – People in Nashville Talk Their City Down to Prevent People from Moving to Nashville

If you have to trash your own city satirically because it’s so great that everyone wants to live there, that’s a good indication that all the positive hype is true. There must be a reason that people keep moving to Nashville, right? Actually, there are lots of reasons.

#12 – You Won’t Die In Nashville if Nashville’s Biggest Industry Has Anything To Say About It

One of Nashville’s biggest businesses here is healthcare. The abundance of available jobs is one of the reasons that healthcare professionals, in particular, are moving here. Six out of the ten best for-profit hospitals are in Nashville, and more than ten percent of the population works in a field connected with healthcare.

#11 – Sprawl Reduction

Not that there isn’t some urban sprawl. But Nashville has a long history of reclaiming buildings for new uses instead of consigning them to the dustbin of history. That’s positive for history, positive for the cost of living, and positive for the environment. It also results in some pretty cool living spaces being created.

#10 – Walkin’ After Midnight… Searchin’ For Pizza

With apologies to Patsy (since we’re pretty sure she wasn’t walkin’ after midnight in search of pizza), you won’t just search for pizza after midnight in Nashville, you’ll find it! Mafiaoza’s Pizzeria is open till 3 AM six nights a week, and with some of the best pizza in the city, you’ll find more reasons to be up late more often.

#9 – Humidity

Some like it hot. Some like it hot and humid. If you’re the latter, you’ll be right at home in Nashville. While not quite tropical, you can expect that summers will slap you in the face. When you consider everything that moving to Nashville gives you, it’s worth tolerating.

#8 – Moving To Nashville Doesn’t Mean Giving Up Access To Other Large Cities

65 will take you south, of course. You’re within an easy drive of Atlanta and points north which is a good, solid chunk of the South. Indianapolis and Chicago aren’t all that far away. Even Saint Louis is accessible. Nashville is not in the middle of nowhere, it’s a vital part of the South and it’s a city that lets you go and visit others. But no matter how often you leave Nashville, it will always make you want to come back.

#7 – City Schools Are Pretty Decent and Suburban Schools Are Too

If you have kids, you care about the school district. Schools within the city limits of Nashville are strong, but you might find better opportunities in the suburbs. The point is that no matter where you live in and around Nashville, there are educational opportunities for your family. It’s a city that offers just about everything to just about everyone.

#6 – Where Else Can You Find A Replica Of The Parthenon?

The Parthenon in Nashville is the only exact replica of the ancient Greek structure. Where else would you find something like that? What other city would even want something like that? Nashville is country, Nashville is quirky, but because of these reasons, Nashville is a great place to live!

#5 – You Can Be Anything You Want to be Here

You know that Oprah lady who’s on TV sometimes, right? She got her start on TV in Nashville, way back when. She attended Tennessee State University and was the first black female news anchor in the city. Pretty impressive accomplishments for the 1970’s. Look at where she is today as a result of her talents and hard work! Nashville is a city that can make dreams come true.

#4 – Live Music Everywhere

And not all of it is Country! Most of it is, but there’s some Western thrown in there, as well! We jest, of course. Nashville has rock bands just like any other city. There are more live music venues in Nashville than you could attend in a lifetime, and much of it is good live music! Which is more than some other cities can boast – going to see a band in Albany, NY is a real toss-up, let us tell you. But in Nashville, you’re likely to find quality, and lots of it.

#3 – Green Space

Nashville loves parks, and they do a good job of making them available to people. There are plenty of trails, as well. Whatever your preferred outdoor recreation might be, you can find it here. More than a million people visit the parks every year, which shows that not only do people care about them, but the city has the incentive to continue putting money into them.

#2 – You Won’t Be Alone

People have always been attracted to moving to Nashville, but even more so in recent years. The majority of new residents are no longer just here to try to make it in music. People come for the culture, the jobs, the climate, and a variety of other reasons. Nashville is a great city, and the natives are friendly – even to all of those out-of-staters moving into town.

#1 – Nashville Is Fun

Let’s be honest: You can’t spend all of your time working. You have to play and relax sometimes. Moving to Nashville can provide more opportunities for recreation than most other southern cities, regardless of your preferred activities. If you like the outdoors, or if you would just rather eat your way through your discretionary time, this city has you covered either way.

If you’re moving to Nashville, don’t forget to get Nashville Renters Insurance. It’s required by many landlords, and it’s always a good idea to have. Most people find that cheap renters insurance is the norm, at around fifteen dollars a month. No matter where you’re moving from, you’ll find a land of golden opportunity in Davidson County and its environs.

There are plenty of things you can do before moving to Nashville, and setting up your insurance is one of them. It only takes about sixty seconds. Just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Nashville renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!

Effective Coverage offers the nation's only completely mobile platform to quote and purchase renters insurance right from your phone or tablet in just one minute. Get an online renters insurance quote today and protect your family.

What's Your Style?

• Do You Need Coverage ASAP? Check out the fastest way to buy renters insurance online and get covered in just 60 seconds!
• Do You Feel Like Talking About It? Just call Effective Coverage and a renters insurance expert can help you get great coverage in minutes.
• Do You Need Some Time Alone With Your Thoughts? We understand, which is why we created the Tennessee Guide To Renters Insurance.
• Just Want To Watch A Movie Together? See our video guide below.

Photo Credit: Ron Reiring Nashville, TN CC BY 2.0