Columbus - OH vs Nashville - TN: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Nashville - TN is roughly 37% more expensive than Columbus - OH in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Nashville - TN (39 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Columbus vs Nashville: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,782 a month in principal and interest in Columbus and $2,447 in Nashville, a gap of $665 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,525 in Columbus and $1,803 in Nashville, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.2 times rent in Columbus and 1.4 times rent in Nashville, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 17.9 years of rent in Columbus and 20.7 in Nashville; the lower ratio in Columbus means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +2.6% in Columbus and -0.7% in Nashville; over just the last three months the change was +0.4% in Columbus and -0.0% in Nashville.

Homes sell for 99.4% of list price in Columbus and 97.8% in Nashville, after 14 and 39 days on the market, with price cuts on 35% and 34% of listings. The signs are mixed: Columbus has more price cuts, while Nashville has longer time on the market and sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 9% on a year ago in Columbus and up 10% on a year ago in Nashville.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.