Should I Move to Brentwood or Franklin, TN?

If you're moving to the Nashville area from out of state, you've probably already found yourself comparing Brentwood and Franklin.

They're close enough that you can live in one and easily enjoy the restaurants, shopping, entertainment and amenities of the other. Both have excellent schools, beautiful homes, strong communities and access to some of Middle Tennessee's best outdoor recreation.

So how do you decide?

The answer isn't simply that one is "better" than the other. Brentwood and Franklin offer two distinctly different lifestyles, and the right choice usually comes down to how you want your home and community to feel.

As a local Realtor, I often start with a few simple questions: Do you want new construction or an established home? How important is lot size? Do you want to be close to Nashville? Do you want a walkable downtown and local restaurants? Are community amenities important to you?

Here's how I would break it down for a buyer relocating to Middle Tennessee.

Brentwood vs. Franklin at a Glance

The Biggest Difference: What Do You Want Your Home to Feel Like?

This is usually where the decision starts.

Brentwood feels established. It is mature, quiet and suburban, with tree-lined streets, established neighborhoods and larger lots. There's a polished, country-club quality to much of Brentwood. If you want a beautiful traditional home on a half-acre or acre-plus lot and don't need to walk to restaurants or downtown, Brentwood is hard to beat.

Franklin has more personality. Historic architecture, local businesses, newer master-planned communities, festivals, restaurants and a strong sense of place give Franklin a different feel. It has the quintessential "Hallmark movie" quality that many buyers moving from out of state immediately fall in love with.

And because the two communities are so close, you don't necessarily have to choose between their amenities. A Brentwood resident can easily spend a Saturday in Downtown Franklin, and a Franklin resident can easily head to Brentwood for shopping or dinner.

The question is really: Which community do you want outside your front door?

Brentwood: Established, Spacious and Convenient

One of Brentwood's biggest advantages is its established housing stock.

You're generally not shopping for a brand-new subdivision home. You're shopping for a home that may have been built 20, 30 or even 40+ years ago, often on a significantly larger lot than you'll find in many newer Franklin communities.

That creates an interesting dynamic.

You can find a $2 million Brentwood home that has been beautifully renovated and feels completely current. You can also find a $2 million home that is dated and needs a significant investment.

The price doesn't necessarily tell you how updated the house is.

In fact, one of the biggest mistakes an out-of-state buyer can make is assuming that a $2 million home in Brentwood should automatically be turnkey.

In Williamson County Brentwood, I would generally tell buyers to expect roughly $2 million as a starting point for the kind of home many high-end buyers are seeking, while the Davidson County portion of Brentwood can offer opportunities closer to $1 million, although homes at that level may need updating.

New construction is extremely limited. When an older home is torn down and replaced with a new custom home, it's not unusual for that type of property to start around $3 million or more.

The tradeoff is lot size.

If you've been searching nationally and keep thinking, "I want a beautiful home, but I also want room around it," Brentwood deserves a serious look. Half-acre to one-acre-plus lots are much more common here than they are in many of Franklin's newer communities.

Brentwood's Lifestyle

Brentwood is quieter and more suburban than Franklin.

It also has plenty of parks, trails and greenways. The city currently has 14 parks and more than 25 miles of trails, including opportunities for walking, running and biking.

Golf and country-club living are also an important part of the Brentwood lifestyle.

For families, the combination of quiet neighborhoods and larger yards can be a major draw. There's room for a pool, playset, outdoor entertaining and simply having more space between you and your neighbors.

The tradeoff?

Brentwood doesn't have the same concentration of boutique businesses, local restaurants, festivals and walkable entertainment that Franklin does.

You'll find plenty of shopping and dining, but more of it has a traditional suburban or national-chain feel.

Think country club more than local Main Street.

And for many buyers, that's exactly what they want.

Franklin: Character, New Construction and More Variety

Franklin is a different experience.

If Brentwood's biggest selling point is established space, Franklin's biggest selling point may be character.

Historic Downtown Franklin, local restaurants and boutiques, The Factory, CoolSprings, McEwen Northside, Berry Farms and the many newer communities throughout the area give residents a much broader range of places to go and things to do.

Franklin is also where you'll find significantly more new construction.

If a buyer tells me, "I don't want to buy a house that needs updating. I want new construction," I'm probably starting their search in Franklin.

But there is a tradeoff.

In many newer Franklin communities, you're giving up lot size to get the new house.

A typical homesite may be closer to 0.25 to 0.3 acres, compared with the half-acre to acre-plus lots that can be found more readily in established Brentwood neighborhoods.

For buyers who prioritize the newest finishes, modern floor plans and community amenities, that can be an excellent trade.

For buyers who want a huge backyard, mature trees and privacy, it may not be.

Franklin's Newer Communities Offer Something Brentwood Often Doesn't

One of the things I hear more frequently from today's buyers is that they want their neighborhood to function almost like a resort.

They want:

• Community pools
• Pickleball courts
• Dog parks
• Walking trails
• Clubhouses
• Playgrounds
• Gathering spaces
• Fitness amenities

Franklin has more newer master-planned communities where those types of amenities are built into the lifestyle.

That's a meaningful difference for families and for buyers who want a strong built-in social component to their neighborhood.

What About Larger Lots in Franklin?

This is where Franklin gets interesting.

If you're looking for significant acreage, Franklin absolutely has it. But it comes with a very different price point.

Franklin's zoning and development regulations include districts designed for estate-sized and rural residential properties, including areas with five-acre minimums.

That means buyers sometimes see a large tract of land and assume it can simply be divided into a bunch of smaller luxury lots.

That's not necessarily the case.

In certain areas, a large farm may effectively result in a handful of five-acre homesites rather than dozens of smaller lots. And once you start talking about five-acre properties in highly desirable Franklin locations, the price can move dramatically upward.

Five acres in Franklin can easily become a $3 million-plus proposition.

So if your dream is:

"I want a beautiful new house on a big piece of land."

You need to decide whether you're looking for a large suburban lot or true acreage.

Those are very different searches.

Brentwood vs. Franklin: Which Is Better for Your Commute?

Here's something I tell buyers all the time:

Don't assume Brentwood automatically means a better commute than Franklin. Look at the specific house's proximity to I-65.

If you're commuting to Nashville, the airport or another location along the interstate, your distance from I-65 can matter enormously.

For example, a home that's 15 minutes down Concord Road may technically be in Brentwood, but that doesn't mean you'll have an easy commute. During rush hour, those extra 15 minutes before you even reach the interstate can make a significant difference.

Conversely, a Franklin home located close to I-65 may get you onto the interstate quickly.

So when you're comparing the two cities, don't just ask:

"How far is this from Nashville?"

Ask:

"How long does it take me to get to I-65 from this house during rush hour?"

For buyers who need to be in downtown Nashville frequently, Brentwood's proximity is one of its biggest advantages.

Schools: Brentwood vs. Franklin

This is one area where I wouldn't make the decision based on a simple ranking.

Both Brentwood and Franklin offer highly regarded public-school options, and schools are a major reason families choose Williamson County.

But here's something worth knowing before you relocate:

The public-school decision isn't always as straightforward as buyers expect.

I've had buyers move to either Brentwood or Franklin fully intending to use public schools, only to decide later that a private school was a better fit for their child.

That's why I recommend families look at the specific school zone attached to the property, not simply search for "Brentwood schools" or "Franklin schools."

And if you're considering private school, factor that into your housing search from the beginning. Your ideal neighborhood may change depending on where your children attend school.

Property Taxes: A Detail Worth Understanding

For higher-income buyers, property taxes usually aren't the deciding factor between Brentwood and Franklin, but they are worth understanding before you purchase.

One reason this can get confusing is that Brentwood crosses the Davidson County/Williamson County line.

That matters.

In Williamson County, the 2025 total property tax rate listed for Brentwood was $1.49 per $100 of assessed value, while Franklin's rate varied depending on the applicable school district and location. For example, Williamson County lists Franklin/FSSD at $2.0633 per $100 of assessed value for 2025.

Franklin's FY2026 city property tax rate was set at $0.296 per $100 of assessed valuation following the county's reappraisal.

Tax rates and assessments can change, so this is something your Realtor and lender should verify for the specific property you're considering.

The takeaway isn't "buy here because the taxes are lower."

It's simply: know which county and taxing jurisdictions you're buying into.

For a higher-end buyer, being "in the know" about those details matters.

Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation

Neither community is lacking when it comes to outdoor recreation.

Brentwood has an extensive city park system, with 14 parks and more than 25 miles of trails. The trail network supports walking, running and biking, and parks offer everything from playgrounds and athletic fields to nature areas.

Franklin has an extensive greenway and trail network designed to connect parks and other areas throughout the community. Its park amenities include greenways and trails, playgrounds, canoe access, fishing and mountain-bike trails.

For outdoor-minded buyers, both are excellent.

The difference is more about how you access recreation.

Brentwood's established neighborhoods and parks pair particularly well with the larger-lot, quieter suburban lifestyle.

Franklin adds the newer community amenities that many buyers specifically seek, such as pools, pickleball and dog parks.

Golf and country-club access are also available in both areas.

What About Shopping, Restaurants and Entertainment?

This is probably the biggest lifestyle difference.

Living in Franklin gives you easy access to:

Historic Downtown Franklin
Boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, the Franklin Theatre and the historic Main Street experience.

The Factory at Franklin
Shopping, dining, events and local businesses in a distinctive historic setting.

CoolSprings
One of the area's major retail and business hubs, with significant ongoing investment and expansion.

McEwen Northside
Dining, retail, offices and newer development.

Berry Farms
A major mixed-use community with residential, retail, restaurants and services.

And then there are the events.

Franklin's calendar is a genuine part of the community experience. The city hosts events including Main Street Festival, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas, while Pilgrimage brings music to Harlinsdale Farm.

The city's signature festivals alone draw hundreds of thousands of visitors throughout the year.

That's something Brentwood simply doesn't replicate on the same scale.

But again, that isn't necessarily a negative.

Some people want the quieter lifestyle.

They don't need to live near a festival. They don't care about walking to a boutique. They'd rather have a large backyard, a beautiful established neighborhood and a short drive to Nashville.

Those buyers often fall in love with Brentwood.

What About Empty Nesters?

This is an interesting category because the answer isn't automatically Franklin.

If an empty nester wants to stay in a large, traditional home with a big yard, Brentwood has a lot to offer.

If they want to downsize into something easier to maintain, Franklin tends to offer more options.

You'll find more:

• Townhomes
• Cottages
• Single-level homes
• Smaller luxury properties
• Low-maintenance communities
• Newer communities with amenities

So if your goal is to maintain a large luxury lifestyle, Brentwood may make sense.

If your goal is to simplify without giving up restaurants, entertainment and a strong community, Franklin deserves a close look.

What About Families?

Families love both.

Brentwood tends to appeal to families who want:

• Quiet neighborhoods
• Larger yards
• Established communities
• Space for pools and playsets
• Excellent schools
• Easy access to Nashville

Franklin tends to appeal to families who want:

• Newer homes
• Master-planned communities
• Neighborhood amenities
• Pools and pickleball
• Parks and trails
• Restaurants and entertainment nearby
• More of a community-event atmosphere

Neither is a bad choice.

They're simply different versions of suburban Middle Tennessee living.

So, Should You Move to Brentwood or Franklin?

After working with buyers in both areas, I don't think the best answer is:

"Brentwood is better."

Or:

"Franklin is better."

The better question is:

What do you want your home and community to feel like?

If you tell me:

"I want new construction, modern finishes and a neighborhood with a pool, pickleball and other amenities."

We're probably starting in Franklin.

If you tell me:

"I want to be within about 20 minutes of my downtown Nashville office, I have a $2.5 million-plus budget, and I want a large lot in an established neighborhood."

We're probably looking heavily at Brentwood.

If you tell me:

"I want historic charm, great restaurants, local boutiques, community events and a house that feels like it belongs in a Hallmark movie."

Franklin is probably going to win your heart.

If you tell me:

"I want peace and quiet, a big yard, an established neighborhood and easy access to Nashville."

Brentwood may be the better fit.

And if you tell me:

"I want a little bit of everything."

That's where the conversation gets more interesting.

Because Brentwood and Franklin are close enough that you can live in one and enjoy much of what the other has to offer.

The Bottom Line

For most out-of-state buyers, the decision between Brentwood and Franklin comes down to lifestyle more than geography.

Brentwood offers proximity to Nashville, larger established lots, mature neighborhoods and a quiet, polished suburban lifestyle.

Franklin offers character, historic charm, new construction, more housing variety, master-planned communities and a much stronger local restaurant, retail and festival scene.

Neither is universally better.

The right choice depends on what you want to come home to every day.

And that's why I recommend choosing the lifestyle first, then choosing the house.

If you're relocating to Middle Tennessee and trying to decide between Brentwood and Franklin, I'd be happy to help you narrow down the neighborhoods that actually fit your lifestyle, commute, budget and priorities.

Note: Property taxes, zoning regulations, school assignments, home prices and new-construction availability can change. Always verify the current information for a specific property before making a purchase decision.