Support Us Button Widget

Nashville is suited for young professionals, here’s why

The city ranked No. 9 in Forbes’ “Top 10 Places for Young Professionals To Live,” largely due to a robust job market and low unemployment rate.

The shadow of a musician holding a guitar on Broadway.

Beyond the music, Nashville’s other key industries have made it a hotspot for young professionals.

Table of Contents

The results are in — Nashville really is the place to live, work, and play for young professionals, according to Forbes.

The business media company ranked Music City No. 9 on its recent list of “Top 10 Places For Young Professionals To Live” after comparing 100 of the most heavily-populated metros across 10 metrics. Let’s debrief the case and take it a step further.

Study takeaways

Despite a median home price on the higher end ($385,800) compared to other metros on the list (read: Kansas City, Cincinnati, Columbus, OH + more) — the overall cost of living in Nashville still ticks below the national average.

The city is also recognized for its low unemployment rate and strong job market across its key industries, including education and health services, transportation and utilities, hospitality, and more. The area’s median age range rings in at ~36-37 years old.

NASHtoday finds

Sold on the move but looking for your next step? There’s a list for that, too. Niche, a ranking and reviews site, released its “2023 Best Neighborhoods for Young Professionals in the Nashville Area” list. Here are the top three:

  • No. 1 — North Capitol | Of the top three neighborhoods, this one has a larger chunk of residents choosing to own homes over renting at 38%.
  • No. 2 — Downtown | Young professionals can’t get closer to the heart of the action between the many bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks located in the urban core.
  • No. 3 — Watkins Park | This neighborhood ranked No. 4 overall on Niche’s best neighborhoods to live, but jumped a spot in its appeal to young professionals.

We’d be remiss to mention the weekly networking mixers and groups for young professionals across the city. Add these upcoming events to your calendar:

More from NASHtoday
The 16th annual edition of Small Business Saturday falls on November 29 — the perfect time to help you add a local sparkle into your holiday shopping.
Music City pops up in a handful of new holiday films on Hallmark, Great American Family, and streaming platforms.
Padel is popping up around Music City, and these spots make it easy to try out the sport.
Could Nateland become Nashville’s next theme park after Opryland USA’s 1997 closure? A new partnership is exploring the possibility.
As Glinda and Elphaba return to the big screen, Nashville is celebrating with pink-and-green moments, themed treats, and Oz-inspired events.
This list of volunteer opportunities includes everything from becoming a docent for Centennial Park to walking shelter dogs — keep reading to find an org you’re passionate about.
Raking in the leaves? Here’s how to bag and bundle them the Metro-approved way.
Directly north, east, south, and west, cities across the world await.
The concept is taking over South Korea’s capital city. We’re thinking about where we’d copy it in Music City.
Over the next 10 days, we’re launching a reader-driven campaign to sustain what we do best.