The 10 Best Suburbs Near Nashville, Tennessee in 2027

Direct Answer

The best suburb near Nashville overall is Franklin, where a median home price around $750,000 buys top Williamson County schools, a celebrated historic Main Street, and a corporate job base about 21 miles south of downtown. The best value pick is Hendersonville, where the median sits near $500,000 with lakefront living on Old Hickory Lake, solid Sumner County schools, and lower prices than the Williamson County suburbs.

This list is for families and transplants who want strong schools and a high quality of life with a manageable commute to downtown Nashville, which has no state income tax. Every suburb below is a real city in the Nashville metro, ranked on median home price, school ratings, commute, and amenities.

1. Franklin 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Franklin, about 21 miles south of downtown Nashville in Williamson County, is the metro's premier suburb and a consistent national "best places to live" pick. The median home price is roughly $750,000, and Williamson County Schools are the highest-rated district in Tennessee.

Downtown Franklin's restored 19th-century Main Street is a regional destination for dining, festivals, and music, and the Cool Springs corridor hosts major corporate offices. Commutes downtown run 30 to 45 minutes via I-65. It is best for families who want top schools, a genuine historic downtown, and a strong local job base.

2. Brentwood

Brentwood, about 12 miles south of Nashville in Williamson County, has a median home price near $1 million and is the metro's most affluent suburb, known for large estate lots and the same top-rated Williamson County schools.

Maryland Farms is a significant office park, and the city is quiet and almost entirely residential. Commutes downtown run 25 to 40 minutes. Brentwood suits high earners who want top schools, larger lots, and a short, leafy commute to the city.

3. Hendersonville 💎 BEST VALUE

Hendersonville, about 18 miles northeast of Nashville in Sumner County, offers the best value here, with a median home price near $500,000 and extensive frontage on Old Hickory Lake. Sumner County Schools serve the area.

The lake gives residents boating, marinas, and waterfront homes at far lower prices than the Williamson County suburbs. Commutes downtown run 30 to 45 minutes via Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. For buyers who want lakefront living and solid schools at a moderate price, Hendersonville is the standout value.

4. Mount Juliet

Mount Juliet, about 17 miles east of Nashville in Wilson County, has a median home price near $550,000 and the metro's only commuter rail, the WeGo Star, running into downtown. Wilson County Schools are strongly rated.

Providence Marketplace anchors retail, and the city has grown quickly. Commutes downtown run 30 to 40 minutes, with rail an option. Mount Juliet suits families who want newer construction, good schools, and the metro's only train commute.

5. Nolensville

Nolensville, about 20 miles south of Nashville in Williamson County, has a median home price near $700,000 and a small historic downtown with rapid new-home growth. It shares the top-rated Williamson County schools.

Commutes downtown run 35 to 50 minutes. Nolensville is best for families who want the newest construction in the top school district and a small-town feel on the metro's south side.

6. Spring Hill

Spring Hill, about 30 miles south of Nashville straddling Williamson and Maury counties, has a median home price near $520,000 and is anchored by a large General Motors assembly plant. Schools split between the two counties.

Commutes downtown run 45 to 60 minutes via I-65. Spring Hill suits buyers who want affordability, newer homes, and proximity to GM jobs, accepting a longer commute for the lower price.

7. Gallatin

Gallatin, about 30 miles northeast of Nashville in Sumner County, has a median home price near $480,000 and a historic town square plus Old Hickory Lake access. Sumner County Schools serve the area.

Commutes downtown run 40 to 55 minutes. Gallatin is best for buyers who want small-town character, lake recreation, and lower prices on the northeast side, with growth pushing new development.

8. Smyrna

Smyrna, about 25 miles southeast of Nashville in Rutherford County, has a median home price near $450,000, among the lowest here, and is home to a major Nissan assembly plant. Rutherford County Schools serve the area.

Commutes downtown run 35 to 50 minutes via I-24. Smyrna suits budget-focused buyers and Nissan employees who want affordability and a reasonable commute on the southeast corridor.

9. Thompson's Station

Thompson's Station, about 28 miles south of Nashville in Williamson County, has a median home price near $650,000 and large new master-planned communities with the top Williamson County schools. It retains a rural, low-density feel.

Commutes downtown run 40 to 55 minutes. Thompson's Station is best for families who want the newest homes and larger lots in the top school district, with a country setting.

10. Goodlettsville

Goodlettsville, about 14 miles north of Nashville straddling Davidson and Sumner counties, rounds out the list with a median home price near $450,000 and a convenient location just off I-65. Schools span two districts.

Commutes downtown run 20 to 35 minutes, among the shortest here. Goodlettsville suits buyers who want affordability and a short north-side commute close to the city.

How to Choose

• Prioritize schools and target Williamson County (Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville), the top-rated district in Tennessee.
• Prioritize budget and Smyrna, Gallatin, and Goodlettsville offer the lowest medians here.
• Prioritize commute with Goodlettsville (north, short drive) or Mount Juliet, which has the metro's only commuter train.
• Prioritize the lake with Hendersonville and Gallatin, both on Old Hickory Lake.
• Prioritize jobs by matching to the plant: Spring Hill for GM, Smyrna for Nissan, or Franklin's Cool Springs for corporate offices.

FAQ

Which Nashville suburb has the best schools? The Williamson County school district, serving Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, and Thompson's Station, is the highest-rated public school system in Tennessee for test scores and graduation rates.

Which Nashville suburb offers the best value? Hendersonville offers strong value, pairing lakefront living on Old Hickory Lake and solid Sumner County schools with a median home price near $500,000, well below the Williamson County premium.

Which suburb has commuter rail to downtown Nashville? Mount Juliet is served by the WeGo Star commuter rail, the metro's only train line, allowing a roughly 30-to-40-minute ride into downtown Nashville as an alternative to driving I-40.

Do Nashville suburbs benefit from no state income tax? Yes. Tennessee has no state income tax, which benefits residents across all these suburbs, though property taxes and home prices vary widely, with Williamson County carrying the highest home prices and Sumner and Rutherford counties offering lower entry points.

Bottom Line

For the best overall combination of schools, downtown character, and jobs, Franklin leads the Nashville metro at a median near $750,000. For the best value, Hendersonville pairs lakefront living and solid schools with a median around $500,000.

Sources

• Tennessee Department of Education school accountability data
• RealTracs MLS median price reports
• Niche.com "Best Suburbs of Nashville" rankings
• WeGo Public Transit (Star commuter rail) schedules
• City of Franklin and City of Hendersonville official sites
• U.S. News & World Report best high schools
• U.S. Census Bureau metro estimates