Thinking of moving to Nashville? Here's what you need to know.

Nashville has long been called Music City, and for good reason, it's one of the top places in the country for new and seasoned musicians to find inspiration, and for fans to hear great tunes. But Nashville, a metro area with almost 2 million residents, holds its own in other areas, too, including food, film and fashion.

Who's There?

The Nashville area boasts a number of universities, notably, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee State University, earning it the nickname "Athens of the South." Around Major employers include Vanderbilt University, Nissan, Saint Thomas Health and HCA Holdings, Inc. The cost of living in Nashville is reasonable, around 90.2 percent of the national average, and the state of Tennessee does not tax personal income.

What's Around Nashville?

A car is useful in Nashville, although the city is quite friendly to pedestrians and cyclists, thanks to organizations such as GreenBikes and Walk Bike Nashville. Public transportation is also available; the Music City Star commuter rail and the Metropolitan Transit Authority bus system help locals get around Nashville as well as greater Davidson County. Well-known neighborhoods include hip and artsy East Nashville, college-friendly Hillsboro Village, naturally beautiful Bellevue, and The Gulch, which is home to The Station Inn, Nashville's historic music venue.

What Do You Do In Nashville?

Music is, of course, a main attraction in the area, with live performances nightly at many venues along Broadway, and regular performances at the Grand Ole Opry and historic Ryman Auditorium. Art is also quite popular with residents. Galleries and museums, including the popular Frist Center for the Visual Arts, are plentiful. Nashville's culinary scene is gaining traction. Many restaurants serve the city's signature "hot chicken," which is a spicy fried chicken. If you're a sports buff, don't miss seeing Nashville's professional hockey team, the Predators. Football fans will want to score tickets to a Tennessee Titans game. Popular festivals and events throughout the year include the Tomato Festival, the Nashville Film Festival, Nashville Fashion Week and Taste of Music City.

Cortland at the Nations

Alta Lofts on the Levee

Encore at Brentwood

The Residence at Old Hickory Lake

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Residences at Woodbine Park

Parc at Metro Center

River West Apartments

Sentral SoBro

201 Residences

Sojourn Nolensville

The Still I

Lyric on Bell Apartments

Chowning Square

10th & Park

The Rowan

Highlands at the Lake

Crossings at East Nashville

Village 17

City Side Flats Apartments

MAA Nashville West

McCrory Flats

Oslo

Roberts Park Apartments

Corban Farms at Cane Ridge

Ascent Apartments

The Fountains at Belle Meade

Bexley Donelson

Allegro on Bell

Village 21

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