Nashville vs Phoenix
Two markets on the list for people leaving LA. Here's how they stack up on price, pace and taxes, measured against what a typical LA home sells for.
| Nashville, TN | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $483K | $468K |
| Median single-family | $530K | $490K |
| Median condo | $379K | $290K |
| Median $/sq ft | $277 | $279 |
| Median days on market | 59 | 52 |
| Avg sale-to-list | 98.1% | 97.9% |
| Sq ft for $1M (at median $/sq ft) | 3,610 | 3,580 |
| Californians who moved to the state (2024) | 19,670 | 52,383 |
Redfin Data Center, May 2026, all residential unless noted. Typical LA County zip for reference: $904K median, $588/sq ft, 44 median days on market. Mover counts: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024, estimates with margins of error.
The short version
Phoenix is the less expensive of the two at the median, about $468K versus $483K in Nashville, roughly 3% less (Redfin, May 2026). Price per square foot is close too, $277 in Nashville and $279 in Phoenix. Phoenix homes have been moving faster, 52 median days on market versus 59 in Nashville. Tennessee has no tax on wage income. Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). In 2024 about 20,000 Californians moved to Tennessee and about 52,000 to Arizona (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024).
Taxes
Nashville: None on wages (Tennessee fully repealed its Hall tax on investment income in 2021). Phoenix: 2.5% flat rate (tax year 2026). Property tax, insurance and HOA costs vary by address in both places and can matter as much as income tax, so price them for any specific home.
Go deeper
Read the full guides: moving from LA to Nashville and moving from LA to Phoenix.
Common questions
Is Nashville or Phoenix cheaper?
Phoenix had the lower median sale price, about $468K versus $483K in Nashville (Redfin, May 2026), roughly 3% less at the median.
Which has lower state income tax, Nashville or Phoenix?
Nashville has the lower state income tax. Tennessee has no tax on wage income. By comparison, Arizona has a 2.5% flat income tax (tax year 2026). Rates change, so confirm with each state and a CPA.
What does $1 million buy in Nashville vs Phoenix?
At the median price per square foot, $1 million works out to roughly 3,610 square feet in Nashville and 3,580 in Phoenix, versus about 1,700 at the LA median. A rough illustration, not a listing.
