Best Suburbs Around Nashville for Families Who Want More Space

The best suburbs around Nashville for families who want more space are spread across five counties: Brentwood, Franklin and Nolensville in Williamson County, Spring Hill on the Williamson–Maury line, Mt. Juliet in Wilson County, Hendersonville and Gallatin in Sumner County, and Smyrna and Murfreesboro in Rutherford County. Each one trades a longer trip downtown for bigger lots, different school options or lake access. This guide, updated for 2026, compares them side by side so you can shortlist two or three before you tour homes. When you are ready to move, Spyder Moving and Storage can plan the long-distance part of the trip.

How do the Nashville suburbs compare at a glance?

The table below lines up the Nashville suburbs families ask about most often. Distances are approximate road miles to downtown Nashville, and rush-hour drive times on I-65, I-24 and I-40 can easily double, so test the commute at the hour you would actually drive it.

Many of the families who use this list are moving from Memphis to Nashville or relocating from out of state. The pattern is simple: the closer to downtown, the higher the price per square foot and the smaller the yard for the money. Williamson County suburbs such as Brentwood and Franklin usually cost the most, while Gallatin, Smyrna, Murfreesboro and the Maury County side of Spring Hill tend to offer more house for the same budget.

Why do families leave Nashville for the suburbs?

Space is the main reason. Many close-in Nashville neighborhoods have smaller lots and older homes, while the surrounding counties have been building new subdivisions with bigger yards, bonus rooms and three-car garages. Families also move for school choice, quieter streets and parks within walking distance. If you would rather design your own house, these places in Tennessee to build a home include Franklin, Brentwood and Murfreesboro.

What to check before you pick a Nashville suburb

Before you fall for a house, check these points for the exact address, not just the town name:

• School zoning. Spring Hill is split between Maury and Williamson counties, Franklin has its own PreK–8 district inside much of the city, and Murfreesboro City Schools covers PreK–6 before students move to Rutherford County Schools.
• Commute corridor. Brentwood, Franklin and Spring Hill share I-65; Smyrna and Murfreesboro share I-24; Mt. Juliet relies on I-40 or the WeGo Star train; Hendersonville and Gallatin use Vietnam Veterans Boulevard.
• Lot size and HOA rules. Ask about minimum lot sizes, fences, sheds and parking for boats or RVs.
• Growth plans. Fast-growing towns may add schools, roads and traffic over the next few years.

Our guide to enrolling your kids in a Tennessee school covers the documents districts ask for. If you are coming from West Tennessee, Spyder’s Memphis movers can pack and load your home there and drive it to Middle Tennessee.

What are the best suburbs around Nashville for families?

These nine suburbs cover the main directions out of Nashville. Each one suits a different family, depending on budget, school priorities and where the parents work.

Brentwood

Brentwood sits about 10 miles south of downtown in Williamson County, which makes it the closest option on this list. The city plans its neighborhoods around a “one acre density” standard, and its R-2 suburban residential zone requires a minimum lot size of one acre, according to the City of Brentwood’s planning department. That rule is why so many Brentwood homes sit on large lots. Students attend Williamson County Schools. Brentwood is usually among the priciest choices here, but you get space close to the city. Parents who work from home will also find Brentwood on our list of the best Tennessee towns for remote professionals.

Franklin

Franklin, the Williamson County seat, is about 21 miles south of Nashville off I-65. Its downtown has five historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places, and Civil War sites such as the Carter House and Carnton recall the Battle of Franklin of November 30, 1864. Inside much of the city, children attend the Franklin Special School District from PreK through 8th grade and then move to Williamson County Schools for high school; other Franklin addresses are zoned to Williamson County Schools from the start. Families can choose between older homes near Main Street and newer subdivisions on the edge of town.

Spyder Moving and Storage’s Tennessee office is in Memphis, so a move to Franklin from West Tennessee or another state is planned as a long-distance move. Our Tennessee movers handle packing, loading and delivery to Middle Tennessee.

Nolensville

Nolensville is a smaller Williamson County town about 22 miles southeast of Nashville along Nolensville Road. The 2020 Census counted 13,829 residents, and the town has grown quickly since. Nolensville High School, part of Williamson County Schools, opened in 2016. Families pick Nolensville when they want Williamson County schools and newer homes in a smaller-town setting rather than a big suburb.

Spring Hill

Spring Hill sits about 30–35 miles south of Nashville and is one of the area’s fastest-growing cities: the 2020 Census counted 50,005 residents. The city lies in two counties, Williamson to the north and Maury to the south. That split matters for families, because a home on the Maury County side is zoned to Maury County Public Schools, while a home on the Williamson side is zoned to Williamson County Schools. Spring Hill’s new-construction subdivisions offer more space for the money than Brentwood or Franklin. General Motors’ Spring Hill Manufacturing plant, which builds the Cadillac Lyriq, is one of the region’s large employers.

Mt. Juliet

Mt. Juliet is the largest city in Wilson County, with 39,289 residents at the 2020 Census, about 17 miles east of downtown Nashville. It sits between Old Hickory Lake to the north and Percy Priest Lake to the south, so boating and lakeside parks are close in either direction. Students attend Wilson County Schools. Mt. Juliet is also the only suburb on this list with commuter rail: the WeGo Star commuter train stops at 22 East Division Street on weekdays on its way to Riverfront Station downtown.

Hendersonville

Hendersonville, the most populous city in Sumner County, calls itself the “City by the Lake.” It lies about 18 miles northeast of Nashville on the north shore of Old Hickory Lake, a Cumberland River reservoir operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Shoreline neighborhoods put boat ramps and lakeside parks close at hand, which makes Hendersonville a strong pick for families who want water access without a long drive. Students attend Sumner County Schools. For more lakeside options, see our list of Tennessee lake towns with affordable living.

Gallatin

Gallatin has been the Sumner County seat since 1802 and lies about 30 miles northeast of Nashville. The 2020 Census counted 44,431 residents. Outside the historic downtown square, the land opens up into larger lots and farmland, which is why Gallatin often appeals to families who want a big yard, a workshop or room for animals. Bledsoe Creek State Park and the Old Hickory Lake shoreline are close by, and students attend Sumner County Schools.

Smyrna

Smyrna is a Rutherford County town of 53,070 residents (2020 Census), about 23 miles southeast of downtown along I-24. The Nissan Smyrna assembly plant, which opened in 1983, is the town’s largest employer, and parts of Percy Priest Lake fall inside town limits. Students attend Rutherford County Schools. Smyrna offers a mix of established neighborhoods and newer subdivisions, usually at lower prices than Williamson County.

Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro, the Rutherford County seat, is about 34 miles southeast of Nashville and had 152,769 residents at the 2020 Census, making it the largest suburb of Nashville. It is home to Middle Tennessee State University and the Stones River National Battlefield, run by the National Park Service. Murfreesboro City Schools serves PreK through 6th grade in 13 schools, and students then continue in Rutherford County Schools. Because it is a full city, Murfreesboro has everything from starter homes to large new subdivisions.

How do you plan a move to a Nashville suburb?

Once you have a shortlist, visit on a weekday morning and a Saturday to see traffic and neighborhood life. Living in a suburb does not mean giving up the city: there are always things to do in Nashville within a reasonable drive. Then plan the move itself:

1. Confirm school zoning and enrollment dates with the district.
2. Get a written moving estimate six to eight weeks before your closing date.
3. Book storage if your closing and move-out dates do not line up.

Spyder Moving and Storage does not have a Nashville office, so moves into the Nashville suburbs from Memphis, Mississippi, Colorado or another state run through our long-distance moving service, with our own crews and trucks.

Whether you choose Brentwood’s acre lots, Hendersonville’s lake or Spring Hill’s new subdivisions, Spyder Moving and Storage can help you settle into one of the best suburbs around Nashville. Request a free moving estimate or contact our team to start planning your family’s move.