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.

Broadstone Berry Hill

1104 Residences

The Flats at Laurel & Pine

Alta Lofts on the Levee

Encore at Brentwood

Northerly

Cortland at the Nations

Samara

Soundwater

Novo Hickory Highlands

Wrenstone at the Highlands

The Residence at Old Hickory Lake

The Lodge Bellevue

Alta Rochelle

Cortland Hickory Hollow

The Wayward

Infinity Midtown

201 Residences

Oxbow

Sentral SoBro

Chowning Square

Residences at Woodbine Park

Parc at Metro Center

Modera SoBro

Sojourn Nolensville

River West Apartments

Flats at Donelson Plaza

Lyric on Bell Apartments

Falls at Mill Creek

The Still I

Per capita income

Population density

Median household income

Total population

Median age

Square miles

Percent renters

Median rent

Median rent, monthly change