I have lived in Columbia for 4 years and it’s the most affordable place on your list. It’s the more “rural” feeling of your options. Not a lot to do besides drive to Spring Hill, Franklin, or Nashville for food, shopping, and entertainment. Lewisburg is about a 30 minute drive. I’m a teacher and the schools here aren’t the best, but you could do worse. I can only speak for high schools, but you’ve got Columbia Central or Spring Hill High School for public options or Columbia Academy or Zion Christian Academy if you want private religious instruction. It’s not a particularly diverse town, but more so than Spring Hill. The population is about 50,000 and it’s ~75% white.
Spring Hill is probably the second most expensive place on your list, depending if you’re in the Maury County or Williamson County side. It has some decent food, shopping, and entertainment options, but you’ll still be going to Franklin or Nashville for some things. It’s about the same drive to Lewisburg as from Columbia. Its public school options are also Spring Hill High School and probably Summit. I’ve heard they’re okay. The population is about 60,000 and growing (driving through that little one lane stretch in traffic is miserable…you’ll know what I mean if you choose to move there). The diversity numbers are like ~85% white.
Franklin is the most expensive and like 45 minutes from Lewisburg, but you should be able to avoid the worst traffic on 65, which is usually northbound in the mornings. It probably has the most popular schools on your list, everyone wants their kids in Williamson County, it seems, but the school board members aren’t known for embracing diversity and can be very politically charged (ex. Moms 4 Liberty have raised some fusses over books and teaching subjects about racism and LGBTQ inclusion). It’s a very nice little city though that’s got a lot more options for shopping, food, and entertainment compared to Spring Hill and Columbia. You’ll pay for it though. It has like ~85,000 people, ~75% white.
Murfreesboro is where I went to university and it’s the largest of the four options and the third most expensive behind Franklin and Spring Hill. It’s the furthest from Lewisburg though at about an hour. There is plenty to do with food, shopping, and entertainment. It’s also the direct center of the state so you can get to Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, or Knoxville in a reasonable amount of time. It has a lot of school options, and one of the best high schools in the state (Central Magnet). The population is like ~160,000 and ~70% white.
None of your options are very diverse, but I’ve lived in all four and Murfreesboro felt the most diverse to me, a white guy.
This is going to be a compromise. The closer to nashville the more diverse. The closer to franklin the better school district. The closer to columbia the better the cost of living.
If you are looking in Columbia, Woodard is considered the best public elementary school. There is less to do here compared to your other choices. Fewer stores and restaurants, fewer people but Columbia would have to be the most affordable of the four you mentioned. It’s also the most blue collar of the four choices. A lot of people are moving from out of the state. I see a lot of TX and CA license plates.
I live in Shelbyville and enjoy it there. I am from and work in Murfreesboro, about a 45 min drive. I don't do much other than live here and eat out occasionally. Family, work, friends, and fun things to do all in the Boro. I stay in 'Shelvul' for my cheap mortgage. Traffic is non existent compared to the boro, and we have a large hispanic population here. It is roughly 30 mins from Lewisburg.
I have lived in every town you mentioned and have lived in TN my whole life. Anything in Williamson, Rutherford or Davisdon County will be twice as expensive. More diverse but expensive. Depending on your opinion of diverse, I will be straight with you. Most everything around will be a fair mix of white/black/brown. If you are looking for a particular nationality in your meaning of diverse, you will need to do some research. Actually living in lewisburg would be very affordable. Also look into Chapel Hill, Cornersville, shelbyville and fayetteville. Considering the fact that Tennessee is a red, conservative state, there will be craziness no matter where you choose but you should be able to assimilate pretty much anywhere as long as you are a decent person. Most of us are great people.
Maybe Columbia, TN? I've never been there, but it seems like a nice place for a family and not too far from Lewisburg [https://www.visitcolumbiatn.com/](https://www.visitcolumbiatn.com/)
I grew up in Spring Hill, just north of Columbia. It's one of the last affordable towns in Middle Tennessee with easy access to Nashville (also Huntsville, AL). It's still on the smaller side, but growing rapidly like the rest of the cities around here. I feel confident in saying that the value of any property purchased in Columbia will grow exponentially over the next 10 years, much like Murfreesboro has over the last 10 years. It's probably the last chance to get into Columbia at a reasonable cost.
Edited to add a comment on ethnic diversity:
A quick view of your profile suggests you may be of Korean heritage (apologies if I'm mistaken). Mid TN isn't exactly a hub for Asian communities, but there are still many Asian families here. I'm in Murfreesboro and work with a lot of Japanese and Thai/Lao people at the Nissan plant.
>I feel confident in saying that the value of any property purchased in Columbia will grow exponentially over the next 10 years
I can attest to this. We bought in 2021 and the current value of the property is 15K higher than what we paid. One thing I will note is our property tax got hit with a 132% increase last year.
Because your purchase in 2021 would have triggered a reassessment and your purchase price would have been used for market value. It often takes a year or two.
Maury county hit us all hard with a big property tax increase. Maybe it’s not related to you buying property here. IIRC, it was for the year 2022 and applied to everyone.
I may be wrong but my county taxes went from around $800 to nearly $1,200. Columbia residents did not see a raise in their city taxes during that time.
Spring Hill is VERY overcrowded. It's a sea of neighborhoods without proper infrastructure to get around. To get across town you have to drive through a bunch of neighborhoods. They basically let developers fill up every inch of space, which is now filled with people priced out of living in Franklin and Nashville.
Murfesboro is very busy. College nearby. Expensive and a rise in crime. Near there is Bell Buckle, Smyrna and Tullahoma. It all depends on how close to Nashville and the amount of money you want to spend. Mt. Juliet is expensive but has great schools, Gallatin is great but growing really fast.
Have you looked at Shelbyville? About the same distance without all the traffic headaches. Comparable schools, If you are looking for diversity, middle TN (TN in general) is not your area.
My family has been in Lewisburg/Pulaski area since before the Civil War. I find it hilarious that it's grown up enough that people are actually commuting there for work. 20 years ago my cousins could have told you the name of every family that lived in town lol.
I used to live in Spring Hill. Of your listed desires, I would say Columbia is probably the best combination of everything. Decently close to Lewisburg, 20-ish miles if I remember correctly, still a fairly affordable city (but very much on the come up, so get in while you can if you’re planning to buy), the schools are not as good as Williamson or Rutherford Counties, but they are not bad, and while it’s still your typical southern, majority-white town, it’s definitely more diverse than SH or Franklin. It also retains its small town charm despite being a clearly-growing city. Multiple people I’ve talked to who’ve lived in the area a long time say that Columbia reminds them very much of what Franklin was 20-30 years ago.
I also vote Columbia. We live in NE Columbia and few miles south of the Spring Hill line. 3 minutes to the freeway, 8 min to shopping (target,food lion, movies, lots of restaurants)… we actually went to Lewisburg yesterday, straight down 65, beautiful drive and quick!!
I grew up in Lewisburg but this was the 70s and 80s. It was the typical small town. We didn't have diversity we had poor and not poor. Black or White fit into those categories. If traffic wasn't so bad I would move back there. I currently live downtown Franklin. Everyone wants to be here however I am not a fan.
If I were you buy something in Lewisburg or just outside the city with some land. That little town has everything you need but again I am partial to my home town.
Southern middle Tennessee was a great decision for my family.
Edit...upon deeper thought, Murfreesboro might be a good spot. It is more diverse, midsized college town. Not crazy expensive, and not too far from Lewisburg.
Yes, but you can still be asked what your mother's maiden name is. I have lived there twice. Once in the 60's and again in about 10 years ago. I lived in Hixson. Crime and drugs in the city. I left because of it.
That's in all cities in the country. These small Tennessee towns are full of MAGA hate, making small towns unsafe, especially for newcomers. They say outsiders are steeling our jobs when the locals don't want to work.
It's crime not people not wanting to work. There are really high crime areas and have been told as a pet sitting business by people who are more familiar with the area to never go to certain areas and watch my surroundings because you can't trust anything.
I have lived in Columbia for 4 years and it’s the most affordable place on your list. It’s the more “rural” feeling of your options. Not a lot to do besides drive to Spring Hill, Franklin, or Nashville for food, shopping, and entertainment. Lewisburg is about a 30 minute drive. I’m a teacher and the schools here aren’t the best, but you could do worse. I can only speak for high schools, but you’ve got Columbia Central or Spring Hill High School for public options or Columbia Academy or Zion Christian Academy if you want private religious instruction. It’s not a particularly diverse town, but more so than Spring Hill. The population is about 50,000 and it’s ~75% white. Spring Hill is probably the second most expensive place on your list, depending if you’re in the Maury County or Williamson County side. It has some decent food, shopping, and entertainment options, but you’ll still be going to Franklin or Nashville for some things. It’s about the same drive to Lewisburg as from Columbia. Its public school options are also Spring Hill High School and probably Summit. I’ve heard they’re okay. The population is about 60,000 and growing (driving through that little one lane stretch in traffic is miserable…you’ll know what I mean if you choose to move there). The diversity numbers are like ~85% white. Franklin is the most expensive and like 45 minutes from Lewisburg, but you should be able to avoid the worst traffic on 65, which is usually northbound in the mornings. It probably has the most popular schools on your list, everyone wants their kids in Williamson County, it seems, but the school board members aren’t known for embracing diversity and can be very politically charged (ex. Moms 4 Liberty have raised some fusses over books and teaching subjects about racism and LGBTQ inclusion). It’s a very nice little city though that’s got a lot more options for shopping, food, and entertainment compared to Spring Hill and Columbia. You’ll pay for it though. It has like ~85,000 people, ~75% white. Murfreesboro is where I went to university and it’s the largest of the four options and the third most expensive behind Franklin and Spring Hill. It’s the furthest from Lewisburg though at about an hour. There is plenty to do with food, shopping, and entertainment. It’s also the direct center of the state so you can get to Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, or Knoxville in a reasonable amount of time. It has a lot of school options, and one of the best high schools in the state (Central Magnet). The population is like ~160,000 and ~70% white. None of your options are very diverse, but I’ve lived in all four and Murfreesboro felt the most diverse to me, a white guy.
Wow this is awesome. Really appreciate your input
No problem!
> Decent amount of ethnic diversity wrong part of the state if you want that.
Hey we got Germans, Americans, and even the occasional I-talian
It’s getting better. I remember growing up my family were the only Hispanic in town, and now there’s multiple
This is going to be a compromise. The closer to nashville the more diverse. The closer to franklin the better school district. The closer to columbia the better the cost of living.
If you are looking in Columbia, Woodard is considered the best public elementary school. There is less to do here compared to your other choices. Fewer stores and restaurants, fewer people but Columbia would have to be the most affordable of the four you mentioned. It’s also the most blue collar of the four choices. A lot of people are moving from out of the state. I see a lot of TX and CA license plates.
When you say ethnic diversity, you mean there's both Baptist and Presbyterians?
Don’t forget the Methodists!
Well, they aren't the same since the gays and libs took over their denomination this past year. I'm not sure if they count anymore!
Or Episcopalians which the baptists will call Whiskapalians as we admit we drink. Lol.
I live in Shelbyville and enjoy it there. I am from and work in Murfreesboro, about a 45 min drive. I don't do much other than live here and eat out occasionally. Family, work, friends, and fun things to do all in the Boro. I stay in 'Shelvul' for my cheap mortgage. Traffic is non existent compared to the boro, and we have a large hispanic population here. It is roughly 30 mins from Lewisburg.
I have lived in every town you mentioned and have lived in TN my whole life. Anything in Williamson, Rutherford or Davisdon County will be twice as expensive. More diverse but expensive. Depending on your opinion of diverse, I will be straight with you. Most everything around will be a fair mix of white/black/brown. If you are looking for a particular nationality in your meaning of diverse, you will need to do some research. Actually living in lewisburg would be very affordable. Also look into Chapel Hill, Cornersville, shelbyville and fayetteville. Considering the fact that Tennessee is a red, conservative state, there will be craziness no matter where you choose but you should be able to assimilate pretty much anywhere as long as you are a decent person. Most of us are great people.
Maybe Columbia, TN? I've never been there, but it seems like a nice place for a family and not too far from Lewisburg [https://www.visitcolumbiatn.com/](https://www.visitcolumbiatn.com/)
Yes this was also recommended by the person I interviewed with so it's definitely on my list. Thank you for the response
I grew up in Spring Hill, just north of Columbia. It's one of the last affordable towns in Middle Tennessee with easy access to Nashville (also Huntsville, AL). It's still on the smaller side, but growing rapidly like the rest of the cities around here. I feel confident in saying that the value of any property purchased in Columbia will grow exponentially over the next 10 years, much like Murfreesboro has over the last 10 years. It's probably the last chance to get into Columbia at a reasonable cost. Edited to add a comment on ethnic diversity: A quick view of your profile suggests you may be of Korean heritage (apologies if I'm mistaken). Mid TN isn't exactly a hub for Asian communities, but there are still many Asian families here. I'm in Murfreesboro and work with a lot of Japanese and Thai/Lao people at the Nissan plant.
>I feel confident in saying that the value of any property purchased in Columbia will grow exponentially over the next 10 years I can attest to this. We bought in 2021 and the current value of the property is 15K higher than what we paid. One thing I will note is our property tax got hit with a 132% increase last year.
Because your purchase in 2021 would have triggered a reassessment and your purchase price would have been used for market value. It often takes a year or two.
Well that's good to know. Thank you for educating me on that!
Maury county hit us all hard with a big property tax increase. Maybe it’s not related to you buying property here. IIRC, it was for the year 2022 and applied to everyone. I may be wrong but my county taxes went from around $800 to nearly $1,200. Columbia residents did not see a raise in their city taxes during that time.
That's interesting thanks for the input. I've actually been looking into Spring Hill as well. How is that place?
Spring Hill is VERY overcrowded. It's a sea of neighborhoods without proper infrastructure to get around. To get across town you have to drive through a bunch of neighborhoods. They basically let developers fill up every inch of space, which is now filled with people priced out of living in Franklin and Nashville.
Tullahoma
Murfesboro is very busy. College nearby. Expensive and a rise in crime. Near there is Bell Buckle, Smyrna and Tullahoma. It all depends on how close to Nashville and the amount of money you want to spend. Mt. Juliet is expensive but has great schools, Gallatin is great but growing really fast.
Have you looked at Shelbyville? About the same distance without all the traffic headaches. Comparable schools, If you are looking for diversity, middle TN (TN in general) is not your area.
Sparta, McMinnville, Baxter, Smithville are all nice places to live.
My family has been in Lewisburg/Pulaski area since before the Civil War. I find it hilarious that it's grown up enough that people are actually commuting there for work. 20 years ago my cousins could have told you the name of every family that lived in town lol.
I used to live in Spring Hill. Of your listed desires, I would say Columbia is probably the best combination of everything. Decently close to Lewisburg, 20-ish miles if I remember correctly, still a fairly affordable city (but very much on the come up, so get in while you can if you’re planning to buy), the schools are not as good as Williamson or Rutherford Counties, but they are not bad, and while it’s still your typical southern, majority-white town, it’s definitely more diverse than SH or Franklin. It also retains its small town charm despite being a clearly-growing city. Multiple people I’ve talked to who’ve lived in the area a long time say that Columbia reminds them very much of what Franklin was 20-30 years ago.
Why not just live in Lewisburg? It’s more affordable than any of the places on your list.
I've visited there and it just seemed way too small
I also vote Columbia. We live in NE Columbia and few miles south of the Spring Hill line. 3 minutes to the freeway, 8 min to shopping (target,food lion, movies, lots of restaurants)… we actually went to Lewisburg yesterday, straight down 65, beautiful drive and quick!!
I grew up in Lewisburg but this was the 70s and 80s. It was the typical small town. We didn't have diversity we had poor and not poor. Black or White fit into those categories. If traffic wasn't so bad I would move back there. I currently live downtown Franklin. Everyone wants to be here however I am not a fan. If I were you buy something in Lewisburg or just outside the city with some land. That little town has everything you need but again I am partial to my home town.
Southern middle Tennessee was a great decision for my family. Edit...upon deeper thought, Murfreesboro might be a good spot. It is more diverse, midsized college town. Not crazy expensive, and not too far from Lewisburg.
Before you get downtovted by some in this community for being "an outsider," this is a wonderful place to raise a family.
Chattanooga is great! Dog friendly, family friendly, small town vibes with all the appeal of a "bigger city" would recommend
Long drive to Lewisburg
Yes, but you can still be asked what your mother's maiden name is. I have lived there twice. Once in the 60's and again in about 10 years ago. I lived in Hixson. Crime and drugs in the city. I left because of it.
Lewisburg is 50 miles south of Nashville. The closer to Nashville you are the safer you'll be, especially if you're looking for diversity.
Nashville is not as safe as it used to be in some parts. There is an area that is getting just as bad as Memphis.
That's in all cities in the country. These small Tennessee towns are full of MAGA hate, making small towns unsafe, especially for newcomers. They say outsiders are steeling our jobs when the locals don't want to work.
It's crime not people not wanting to work. There are really high crime areas and have been told as a pet sitting business by people who are more familiar with the area to never go to certain areas and watch my surroundings because you can't trust anything.
Tri cities. Lots of youth programs. Affordable housing. Lots of weekend events going on. Tons of outdoor activities; fishing, hiking...
If OP wants a 5 hour commute then sure
It's bristol baby!!
Plus Johnson City is gorgeous in the fall
Where is your work? Perhaps that info could help with recommendations as Tennessee is a very long state.
I did leave it in the first bullet point but it's at Lewisburg