Quick answer (as of October 2026) The main suburbs of Nashville are Franklin, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, College Grove, Brentwood, Nolensville, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Gallatin and Lebanon. They sit in five counties around Davidson County: Williamson, Maury, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner. With no traffic, they run from about 12 miles and 20 minutes from downtown Nashville (Brentwood) to about 48 miles and 57 minutes (Columbia). The 2026 property tax rates run from $1.30 per $100 of assessed value in unincorporated College Grove to $2.2433 in the part of Franklin inside the Franklin Special School District. September 2026 median listing prices run from $479,450 in Rutherford County to $1,155,000 in Williamson County, per Realtor.com. No suburb is best for everybody. The choice comes down to your commute, your budget, the county, the lot you want and what you want nearby.
*Disclosure:* Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
You're moving to the Nashville area, and every suburb list you've found ranks the same towns without telling you what you'd pay or how long you'd drive. What you pay can change at a county line. Spring Hill alone sits in two counties, and its tax rate depends on which side the home is on.
My office is at 231 Public Square in downtown Franklin, and I live in Canterbury in Thompson's Station. I've been selling real estate since 2013 and investing in real estate since 2005, with more than $500 million in career sales. My market is Davidson, Williamson and Maury counties, and the figures for the other towns on this page come from published sources. If you're still deciding on the move itself, start with my moving to Nashville guide. Send me any address on this page and I'll check its county, tax and water. DM me, text or call 615-392-1186.
What are the suburbs of Nashville?
The suburbs of Nashville are the cities and towns outside Davidson County, strung along the highways that run out of downtown. These are the 13 I'd line up side by side. All of them sit inside the federal Nashville-Davidson, Murfreesboro, Franklin metro area, which covers 14 counties on the Office of Management and Budget's July 2023 list.
Nashville and Davidson County have been one government since April 1, 1963, so nearly all of the county is the city and the suburbs start at the county line.
| Direction from downtown | Main route | Towns |
|---|---|---|
| South | I-65 | Franklin, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, Brentwood, Columbia |
| South and southeast | US 31A, Nolensville Road | College Grove, Nolensville |
| Southeast | I-24 | Murfreesboro, Smyrna |
| East | I-40 | Mt. Juliet, Lebanon |
| Northeast | I-65 and Vietnam Veterans Boulevard (TN 386) | Hendersonville, Gallatin |
Smaller places fill in the same map, including Fairview, La Vergne, White House and Springfield.
How do the Nashville suburbs compare?
Brentwood is the closest of the Nashville suburbs to downtown, Columbia is the farthest, and Williamson County has the highest listing prices of the six counties here. Figures are as of October 2026, and Nashville is the last row.
| Town | County | To downtown Nashville, no traffic | 2026 property tax per $100 assessed, in town | Census median home value, town, 2020 to 2024 | Median listing price, county, September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | Williamson | about 22 miles, 30 minutes | $1.566, or $2.2433 in the Franklin Special School District | $705,400 | $1,155,000 |
| Thompson's Station | Williamson | about 30 miles, 39 minutes | $1.403 | $700,500 | $1,155,000 |
| Spring Hill | Williamson and Maury | about 38 miles, 47 minutes | $2.009 Williamson side, $2.108 Maury side | $493,800 | $1,155,000 Williamson, $493,850 Maury |
| College Grove | Williamson | about 35 miles, 47 minutes | $1.30, unincorporated | no Census town figure | $1,155,000 |
| Brentwood | Williamson | about 12 miles, 20 minutes | $1.49 | $1,031,300 | $1,155,000 |
| Nolensville | Williamson | about 16 miles, 30 minutes | $1.64 | $777,800 | $1,155,000 |
| Columbia | Maury | about 48 miles, 57 minutes | $1.9758 | $308,700 | $493,850 |
| Murfreesboro | Rutherford | about 33 miles, 45 minutes | $2.2414 | $402,100 | $479,450 |
| Smyrna | Rutherford | about 23 miles, 36 minutes | $1.9143 | $358,300 | $479,450 |
| Mt. Juliet | Wilson | about 20 miles, 28 minutes | $1.4457 | $460,100 | $564,675 |
| Hendersonville | Sumner | about 20 miles, 29 minutes | $2.0093 | $430,700 | $479,948 |
| Gallatin | Sumner | about 29 miles, 38 minutes | $1.9505 | $372,000 | $479,948 |
| Lebanon | Wilson | about 32 miles, 42 minutes | $1.1657 county, plus a city rate not posted for 2026 | $378,400 | $564,675 |
| Nashville, for reference | Davidson | downtown | $2.814 Urban Services, $2.782 General Services | $413,600 | $525,000 |
Miles and minutes run from each city hall or town hall to the State Capitol with no traffic, and College Grove's run from the village. Rush hour adds to all of them. Census values are what owners reported from 2020 to 2024, so they run behind today's prices. Realtor.com's figure is the median asking price across the whole county, which is why Spring Hill's $493,800 Census value sits so far below Williamson County's $1,155,000.
*Disclosure:* Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
What are the best suburbs of Nashville?
There's no single best suburb of Nashville. The right one comes down to your commute, your budget, the county, the lot you want and what you want nearby. Fair Housing rules keep me on the homes and the numbers, so I won't tell you which town suits you.
Commute
Brentwood, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Franklin and Nolensville are all within about 30 minutes of downtown Nashville with no traffic. Columbia, Spring Hill and College Grove are the farthest, at about 47 to 57 minutes. Drive your route at the hour you'd actually leave before you write an offer.
The Census gives you a reality check: the average commute ran from 23.9 minutes in Franklin to 36.8 in Nolensville for 2020 to 2024. That counts every worker's trip, wherever the job is, so it isn't a drive to downtown.
You can leave the car at home from some of these towns. As of October 2026, WeGo Star trains run weekday mornings and afternoons from stations in Lebanon and Mt. Juliet to Riverfront Station downtown. WeGo commuter buses use park-and-ride lots for Route 84 in Murfreesboro, Route 86 in Smyrna, Route 87 in Gallatin and Hendersonville, and Route 95 in Spring Hill and Franklin.
If you fly a lot, check the airport too. Mt. Juliet City Hall is about 19 minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA) with no traffic, and Spring Hill City Hall is about 49.
Budget
Rutherford, Sumner and Maury counties had the lowest median listing prices of these six in September 2026, all under $500,000, and Williamson County was more than double them at $1,155,000. The size of the home accounts for part of that gap.
| County, September 2026 | Median listing price | Change from a year earlier | Median size | Price per square foot | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson | $1,155,000 | up 0.9% | 3,314 sq ft | $358 | 1,677 |
| Maury | $493,850 | up 7.5% | 2,220 sq ft | $229 | 760 |
| Rutherford | $479,450 | up 1.4% | 2,217 sq ft | $221 | 1,549 |
| Wilson | $564,675 | up 2.7% | 2,475 sq ft | $232 | 942 |
| Sumner | $479,948 | down 2.1% | 2,216 sq ft | $230 | 1,195 |
| Davidson | $525,000 | down 4.5% | 1,877 sq ft | $301 | 4,621 |
Those are Realtor.com's county figures. By town, Census median home values run from $308,700 in Columbia to $1,031,300 in Brentwood, with Smyrna at $358,300 and Gallatin at $372,000 next lowest. Tennessee doesn't tax wages in any of these towns, so state income tax won't change your answer.
County
The county sets your base property tax rate and your public school system, so pin it down first. A mailing address won't settle it. ZIP codes follow mail routes, and Mt. Juliet's 37122 covers homes outside the city limits.
Tax rates are hard to compare this year. Maury, Rutherford and Wilson counties all reappraised for 2026, and their county rates fell: Maury from $1.91 to $1.369, Rutherford from $1.8762 to $1.4885 and Wilson from $1.9089 to $1.1657. Values reset at the same time, so a lower rate doesn't mean a lower bill. Williamson County last reappraised in 2025.
Tennessee assesses a home at 25 percent of its appraised value, so a $500,000 appraisal is $125,000 of assessed value at these 2026 rates.
| Where the home sits (2026) | Total per $100 assessed | A year on a $500,000 appraisal |
|---|---|---|
| College Grove, unincorporated Williamson County | $1.30 | about $1,625 |
| Mt. Juliet, inside city limits | $1.4457 | about $1,807 |
| Franklin, not in the Franklin Special School District | $1.566 | about $1,958 |
| Hendersonville, inside city limits | $2.0093 | about $2,512 |
| Murfreesboro, inside city limits | $2.2414 | about $2,802 |
| Franklin, in the Franklin Special School District | $2.2433 | about $2,804 |
| Nashville, Urban Services District | $2.814 | about $3,518 |
*Disclosure:* Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
Lot size
Lot size comes down to local zoning, and Brentwood and College Grove have the clearest rules. Brentwood's residential zoning is built around one acre per home, with some districts at two or three. In unincorporated Williamson County, much of the rural land is planned at one home per five acres under the County Commission's 2020 land use plan, and that's a big part of why the land around College Grove stays open. Everywhere else, it comes down to the neighborhood, so read the lot size on the listing.
What's nearby
What's down the road changes from town to town, so mark the two or three things you'd use every week and start there.
| If you'd use it every week | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Big employers | Cool Springs in Franklin, Maryland Farms in Brentwood, General Motors in Spring Hill, Nissan North America in Smyrna |
| A lake | Old Hickory Lake at Hendersonville and Gallatin |
| A university | Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Cumberland University in Lebanon |
| A hospital | Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia |
If you're looking at age-restricted communities, my 55+ communities guide lists them town by town.
The Nashville suburbs, town by town
Population figures below are Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2025, and tax rates are for 2026.
Franklin (Williamson County)
Franklin is the Williamson County seat, about 22 road miles south of downtown Nashville, with an estimated 90,226 residents. It has a 16-block historic downtown and Cool Springs, the business district that holds Nissan North America's 10-story building. Inside the city, the 2026 tax rate is $2.2433 in the Franklin Special School District and $1.566 outside it.
My office is on the Public Square. What I love about Franklin is that it's exactly what you'd want out of a small city, with the community events and a small-town feel that's still there. Start with my Franklin, TN page, then what it's like to live here, the cost of living and how far Franklin is from Nashville.
Thompson's Station (Williamson County)
Thompson's Station is a Williamson County town between Franklin and Spring Hill, about 30 road miles from downtown Nashville by I-840 and I-65, with an estimated 9,469 residents. The town's $0.103 on top of the county's $1.30 makes the 2026 rate $1.403.
I live in Canterbury, and what I tell people is that Thompson's Station is close to both Spring Hill and Franklin, not as congested, and still close to everything. I'm excited about the Costco planned here. Its site plan for 5001 Merchant Lane is filed with the town, and no opening date had been announced as of October 28, 2026. My guide to moving to Thompson's Station has the costs and commutes.
Spring Hill (Williamson and Maury counties)
Spring Hill sits in two counties, Williamson on the north end and Maury on the south, so settle the county before anything else. Inside city limits, the 2026 rate is $2.009 on the Williamson side and $2.108 on the Maury side. The city has an estimated 61,336 residents and General Motors' 2,100-acre campus.
City Hall is about 38 road miles from the State Capitol, about 47 minutes with no traffic. June Lake Boulevard at I-65 Exit 55, on the Williamson side, is 29.7 miles and about 37 minutes. See my Spring Hill page, living in Spring Hill and Spring Hill commute times.
College Grove (Williamson County)
College Grove is an unincorporated community in southeastern Williamson County, ZIP code 37046, about 35 road miles from downtown Nashville. There's no city government and no city property tax, so a home outside the Franklin Special School District pays the county's $1.30 for 2026. The Grove and Troubadour, two private club communities, are in the area.
Just north in Arrington, my wife and I love Arrington Vineyards for the landscape, the wine and the music. My College Grove page covers the communities and the land rules.
Brentwood (Williamson County)
Brentwood is the closest of these towns to downtown Nashville, about 12 road miles and 20 minutes from City Hall by I-65 with no traffic. It's a Williamson County city of an estimated 45,313 residents, and its 2026 in-city rate is $1.49. Its $1,031,300 Census median home value is the highest of the 12 towns with a Census figure.
City Hall sits inside the Maryland Farms office park, and the city counts 14 parks and more than 25 miles of trails. My Brentwood page explains the one-acre rule.
Nolensville (Williamson County)
Nolensville is a Williamson County town in the county's northeast corner, about 16 road miles from downtown Nashville by Nolensville Road, with an estimated 15,789 residents. Its 2026 in-town rate is $1.64. Most of the traffic in and out uses Nolensville Road (US 31A), and TDOT is widening the Davidson County stretch, with the first phase estimated to finish in July 2027.
Nolensville's 36.8-minute average commute is the longest of the 12 towns with a Census figure. My Nolensville page has the routes.
Columbia (Maury County)
Columbia is the Maury County seat, about 48 road miles from downtown Nashville and about 57 minutes with no traffic, with an estimated 50,072 residents. Its $308,700 Census median home value is the lowest of the 12 towns with a Census figure, and the 2026 rate inside city limits is $1.9758.
GM's Spring Hill plant is about 11 miles up US 31, and the 255-bed Maury Regional Medical Center is in town. My Columbia page has more.
Murfreesboro (Rutherford County)
Murfreesboro is the Rutherford County seat, about 33 road miles southeast of downtown Nashville, nearly all of it on I-24. With an estimated 171,178 residents, it's the largest of these towns. The 2026 rate inside the city is $2.2414, after the county's reappraisal. Middle Tennessee State University is here, with more than 20,000 students.
See my Murfreesboro guide and Rutherford County guide.
Smyrna (Rutherford County)
Smyrna is a town in Rutherford County, about 23 road miles southeast of downtown Nashville by I-24, with an estimated 63,321 residents. The 2026 rate inside town limits is $1.9143. Nissan North America is in Smyrna, the largest employer on the state's list for Rutherford County, as of October 2026. My Smyrna guide has the rest.
Mt. Juliet (Wilson County)
Mt. Juliet is a city in Wilson County, about 20 road miles east of downtown Nashville by Mt. Juliet Road and I-40, with an estimated 45,172 residents. The 2026 rate inside the city is $1.4457. The WeGo Star stops at 22 East Division Street. Start with my Mt. Juliet guide and Wilson County guide.
Hendersonville (Sumner County)
Hendersonville is a city in Sumner County on Old Hickory Lake, about 20 road miles from downtown Nashville by US 31E, Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and I-65. With an estimated 64,266 residents, it's bigger than the county seat. The 2026 rate inside the city is $2.0093.
Old Hickory is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake, so a house that backs up to the water doesn't automatically come with the right to a dock. My Hendersonville guide has the Corps rules, and my Sumner County guide has the rest of the county.
Gallatin (Sumner County)
Gallatin is the Sumner County seat, about 29 road miles from downtown Nashville by Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and I-65, with an estimated 54,590 residents, up from 44,431 in the 2020 census. The 2026 rate inside the city is $1.9505. My Gallatin guide covers the taxes and the lake rules.
Lebanon (Wilson County)
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, about 32 road miles east of downtown Nashville by I-40, with an estimated 53,412 residents, up from 38,431 in the 2020 census. It's the east end of the WeGo Star line, with three stations, and Cumberland University, founded in 1842, is here.
Wilson County's 2026 rate is $1.1657. The City's tax page still shows $0.6855 with no year, and a May 2026 Lebanon Democrat report put the proposed 2026 city rate near $0.405, so confirm it with the City of Lebanon before you budget. My Lebanon guide has the details.
How do you check schools for an address in the Nashville suburbs?
Check the address with the district itself, because the town name doesn't settle it and zone lines can change. These are each district's own pages as of October 2026. I don't compare or rate schools.
- Williamson County: Williamson County Schools and, for part of Franklin, the Franklin Special School District.
- Maury County: Maury County Public Schools.
- Rutherford County: Rutherford County Schools and, in Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro City Schools.
- Wilson County: Wilson County Schools and, for part of Lebanon, the Lebanon Special School District.
- Sumner County: Sumner County Schools.
Where should you start looking?
Start with the place you'd drive to most, then the top of your budget. Those two will knock several towns off the table above. Take the two or three left, look at the county and the 2026 rate for each, and drive them at the hour you'd actually be on the road.
If Franklin is your starting point, my guide to towns near Franklin covers what's within 40 minutes of the square. My Williamson County and Maury County guides go deeper on the two counties south of Nashville.
Frequently asked questions about the Nashville suburbs
What are the suburbs of Nashville?
The main suburbs of Nashville are Franklin, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, College Grove, Brentwood, Nolensville, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Gallatin and Lebanon. They sit in Williamson, Maury, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, around Davidson County.
What is the best suburb of Nashville?
No suburb of Nashville is best for everybody. The choice comes down to your commute, your budget, the county, the lot you want and what you want nearby. Start with the towns your budget reaches, then compare the drive and the 2026 tax rate.
Which Nashville suburb is closest to downtown?
Brentwood is the closest of these 13, about 12 road miles and 20 minutes from City Hall to the State Capitol with no traffic. Mt. Juliet and Hendersonville are each about 20 miles and just under 30 minutes. Add time at rush hour.
Which Nashville suburbs cost the least?
By county, Rutherford ($479,450), Sumner ($479,948) and Maury ($493,850) had the lowest median listing prices in September 2026, per Realtor.com. By town, the lowest Census median home values for 2020 to 2024 were Columbia at $308,700, Smyrna at $358,300 and Gallatin at $372,000.
Which Nashville suburbs have the lowest property taxes?
Among these 13, unincorporated College Grove has the lowest published 2026 rate at $1.30 per $100 of assessed value, followed by Thompson's Station at $1.403 and Mt. Juliet at $1.4457. Lebanon's 2026 city rate isn't posted yet. Homes are assessed at 25 percent of appraised value, so a rate alone doesn't tell you the bill.
Is Franklin, TN a suburb of Nashville?
Franklin is a separate city and the Williamson County seat, about 22 road miles south of downtown Nashville. It's one of the three cities in the name of the federal Nashville-Davidson, Murfreesboro, Franklin metro area, and most people call it a Nashville suburb.
Which Nashville suburbs have a commuter train?
Lebanon and Mt. Juliet are the two of these 13 with WeGo Star stations, with trains to Riverfront Station in downtown Nashville on weekday mornings and afternoons. Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Spring Hill and Franklin have WeGo commuter bus park-and-ride lots, as of October 2026.
*Disclosure:* Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.
Comparing Nashville suburbs?
Send me any address on this page and I'll check its county, tax and water. DM me, text or call 615-392-1186.
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