10 Reasons to Retire in Nashville Tennessee

Nashvillians aren’t thrilled with the labeling ‘Nash Vegas’ however it is hard to deny the excitement present day and night in Nashville Tennessee, one of the best cities to retire in Tennessee. Country music legends like Dolly Parton launched her success in the streets of Nashville contributing to the country music craze. New gigs still follow in her footsteps on Music Row, hoping to reach the stars and become one.

When you walk the Gulch in downtown, you can’t help but sense this old Nashville neighborhood transforming itself into a contemporary new one. Why? The Gulch is walking distance from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Bridgestone Arena. New urbanism downtowns across America are attracting cultural snobs and wannabes making life more interesting. You can take it fast or take it slow in Nashville. Music City is truly one of the best cities to live and is still incredibly affordable. From the big city lights on top of the skyscraper's in downtown to the rolling hills lined with white picket fences heading out of town, the landscape of Nashville and its suburbs are as diverse as guitar types.

Here is a list of the reasons why Nashville is one of the Best Cities to Retire in Tennessee:

• Live Entertainment Galore - Nashville is a music lover’s paradise thus the name Music City. You could spend every weekend dancing the night away at live concerts, outdoor festivals or unplugged musical performances at intimate recording studios. In fact on Music Row, all of the Big Four record labels have headquarters in Nashville. Some people say Nashville has become the new L.A. Get to know Nashville better and you may agree. From the Grand Ole Opry to the Bridgestone Arena, the list of concert venues is as exciting as the headline performers. If music makes you feel like a kid again, Nash Vegas is the perfect place to retire and step back in time to your rock-n-roll childhood. There are plenty of Nashville neighborhoods within minutes of exciting live entertainment.

• Southern Cookin’ - There are over 1,000 restaurants in Nashville Tennessee and the immediate surrounding area. Award winning restaurants include: Silly Goose, Monell’s Dining and Catering, Margot Cafe & Bar, Prime 108, Watermark Restaurant and Eastland Cafe. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack was recently featured on Man vs Food named the Best Fried Chicken in America. Your mouth will water at all the dining choices you will have after you retire in Nashville Tennessee. You’d rather cook? Shop at the weekly Nashville Farmer’s Market to collect fresh produce and homemade treats.

• Parks, Parks and More Parks - Did you know there are over 109 public parks and Greenways within the city limits of Nashville Tennessee? Nashvillian’s love to play and have done a fabulous job of creating their own outdoor playgrounds while protecting the green space improving their quality of life. To me, Shelby Park has one of the most interesting bicycling and walking trail systems along the Cumberland River leading to the Grand Ole Opry. If you enjoy walking, jogging or biking, Nashville is the perfect place to mix up your work out routine and keep life interesting at retirement exploring lakes and parks near a Nashville neighborhood.

• College Vibe - Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) at Vanderbilt University. Since the early 2000’s, Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes has focused on providing enriching educational programs for mature students, those primarily those over age 62. On campus, Osher classes include World Architecture, American History, Classics of Musical Genres, Public Education and Family on Film to name a few. The benefits of lifelong learning for mature adults extend beyond brain fitness. Close friendships roll into frequent laughter and shared reflection of past accomplishments. Vanderbilt University is home to students of all ages, interests and creative desires. Nashville is on our list of the best college towns.

• Art & Culture - American Style Magazine named Nashville as one of the Top 25 Art Cities. Nashville is also known as the Athens of the South because of the high quality education and historic art found in the city. Between the Tennessee State Museum, Museum of Art and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, traveling exhibits, lectures and demonstrations could keep an artist occupied for a lifetime in Nashville. The Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Opera and Tennessee Performing Arts Center have more calendars filled with high quality cultural performances, enjoyed by retirees who appreciate the discipline and effort performer’s have invested into perfecting their skills. 

• Job Opportunities - Retiring Baby Boomers consider the best cities to retire in Tennessee places where part time job opportunities exist. In rural areas, part time jobs are not so easy to find. Living on the edges of a big city provides more choices and better choices when it comes to part time work at retirement. Nashville Tennessee’s top industry is health care. In 2005, Nissan North America relocated its headquarters to Nashville Tennessee. Between the entertainment, health care, education and automotive industry, we believe it is not hard to find a part time job at retirement in Nashville compared to other areas in Tennessee. 

• Top Medical Care - As we mentioned above, Nashville’s top industry is health care. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a Top Heart Hospital in America as well as having specialists in cancer, diabetes, ear nose & throat, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, heart & heart surgery, pulmonology and urology. Two top community hospitals in Nashville are Saint Thomas Hospital and Centennial Hospital. If you are concerned about quality medical care in Nashville, you will find peace of mind in knowing the Nashville health care system is delivering top medical care to aging retirees near Nashville neighborhoods.

• Low Cost of Living - Tennessee has no state income tax. Even though the higher sales tax makes Tennessee appear more expensive, when you compare the sales tax, state income tax and real estate property taxes, you will find Tennessee is the lowest cost of living state in the South. Read the chapter in our library: Lower Cost of Living Comparison - Cities in the Southeast to learn more about why Nashville is one of the best cities to retire in Tennessee.

• Sports - We don’t know about you but we suffer from football withdrawal when the NFL season ends in February. Access to professional sports venues in my home town is important to me. The Tennessee Titans call Nashville home and electrify the city during home games. If football is not your thing, the Nashville Predators take to the ice to battle competitors during the NHL season. Nashville Sounds Baseball Club play at Greer Stadium. In addition to these professional sport teams, the Vanderbilt Commodores have a long list of in house college teams to cheer for and support in Nashville.

• Home Sweet Homes - Gallatin, Brentwood and Franklin are areas in Nashville with the highest inquiries for relocation. Gallatin is just north of Nashville and is home to Old Lake Hickory. Brentwood is a more exclusive Nashville golf area, home to celebrities and superstars. Franklin is on the edge of Nashville and has master planned communities displaying great examples of new urbanism.

If you'd like to learn more about the best master planned communities in Nashville Tennessee, write us at info@communityfinder.com or call us toll free at 866.384.1799. We're happy to help.

Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Photographer Larry Singer