Pros and Cons of Living in Brentwood, TN (2026)

Eleven percent. That's how much sales of $1 million to $1.9 million homes rose across Greater Nashville in the third quarter of 2026, according to Greater Nashville Realtors data reported by Axios Nashville on October 19, while every price bracket under $1 million slipped. Few towns sit closer to the center of that story than Brentwood, the Williamson County city just south of Nashville on I-65.

So what's it really like to live here? Below are the honest pros and cons for 2026, with the numbers, drive times, and trade-offs buyers ask us about most. Comparing towns? Our pros and cons of living in Franklin covers Brentwood's neighbor to the south.

Here's what we'll cover:

Brentwood at a Glance

• Population: an estimated 45,313 on July 1, 2025, compared with 45,373 at the 2020 Census (U.S. Census Bureau).
• County: Williamson County, on the Davidson County line south of Nashville.
• Property tax: $1.49 per $100 of assessed value in 2026 (19 cents city plus $1.30 county), per Williamson County's published rate table.
• Median sale price: $1,349,357 for the three months ending September 2026, down 3.6% from a year earlier (Redfin).
• Parks: 1,027 acres of city parks and greenways (City of Brentwood).
• Public schools: Williamson County Schools for addresses inside the city. Always verify the zoned school by address.
• Downtown Nashville: about 20 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

The Pros of Living in Brentwood

A City Tax Rate That Has Held for 36 Years

Brentwood's city property tax is 19 cents per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2027, which runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The Williamson Herald reported in June 2026 that the city commission kept the rate unchanged for the 36th straight year, and sales tax remains the city's biggest source of revenue. Add the Williamson County rate of $1.30 and the combined 2026 rate comes to $1.49 per $100 of assessed value.

Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value, so a home appraised at $1,075,000 (the third-quarter 2026 Williamson County residential median from Greater Nashville Realtors) carries an assessed value of $268,750 and a yearly tax bill of about $4,004. Plug in your own price with our mortgage calculator, or compare it with other homes across Williamson County.

Brentwood Town Hall, which also houses the city police and fire offices.

1,027 Acres of Parks and Greenways

Brentwood's parks department maintains 1,027 acres of parks and greenways. The biggest is Marcella Vivrette Smith Park on Wilson Pike: about 400 acres of the old Ravenswood Farm, with more than six miles of hiking trails, a mountain bike trail system that opened in April 2024, and the 1825 Ravenswood Mansion. River Park's 46 acres include a two-mile walking and bike path along the Little Harpeth River that links Crockett Park to Concord Park.

Two Job Centers Close By

Brentwood has its own office hub in Maryland Farms, and the Cool Springs business and shopping district in Franklin is about 10 to 20 minutes south. Downtown Nashville and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are both reachable in well under an hour on a normal day. The Census puts the average Brentwood commute at 25.7 minutes (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). Buyers who split time between offices often tour homes for sale in Franklin and Nashville listings side by side with Brentwood.

Demand at the Top of the Market

The Axios Nashville report from October 19, 2026 showed third-quarter sales of $1 million to $1.9 million homes up 11% year over year across the nine-county Greater Nashville Realtors area, with $2 million-plus sales up 6.5%, while every bracket below $1 million declined. Redfin's Brentwood data for the three months ending September 2026 shows homes drawing about two offers on average.

The Cons of Living in Brentwood

A Steep Entry Price

Brentwood's $1,349,357 median sale price (Redfin, three months ending September 2026) is more than two and a half times the $510,000 September median for all residential sales in the Greater Nashville Realtors area. The Census estimate of the median owner-occupied home value is $1,031,300 (2020 to 2024). Countywide, Williamson County condos had a $460,000 median in the third quarter, which is a partial guide, since that figure covers the whole county. If this is your first purchase, start with our first-time home buyer resources and the affordability calculator before you tour.

A 37027 Address Is Not Always Brentwood

While pulling listings for this post on October 26, 2026, we found homes with a Brentwood, TN 37027 mailing address that the MLS places in Davidson County. Those homes fall under Metro Nashville for taxes and schools, outside the City of Brentwood and Williamson County Schools. Confirm the county on the tax record before you write an offer, and if Nashville schools and rates work for you, browse Davidson County homes on purpose.

Little Room to Grow

Brentwood's population has barely moved: 45,373 in 2020 and an estimated 45,313 in 2025, across about 41 square miles, with 90.4% of homes owner-occupied (U.S. Census Bureau). That stability is part of the appeal, and it tends to mean fewer brand-new subdivisions and more resales. If you have your heart set on a builder's warranty, look at our new construction guide and widen the map.

I-65 at Rush Hour

Most Brentwood commutes funnel onto I-65, Franklin Road, or Old Hickory Boulevard, and all three slow down at peak hours. A 15-minute midday drive to downtown Nashville can stretch toward 45 minutes at 5 PM. Test your route at the time you'd actually drive it.

Homes Can Sit Longer Than You Think

Redfin counted 208 Brentwood sales in the three months ending September 2026, with a median of 61 days on market and a median price down 3.6% from a year earlier. Overpriced homes tend to sit.

Lakes, Outdoors, and Getting to Nashville

Radnor Lake State Park sits just north of Brentwood on the Nashville side of the line, about 10 to 15 minutes from Maryland Farms. J. Percy Priest Lake and Long Hunter State Park are about 30 to 45 minutes east, and the northern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway, off Highway 100 west of Franklin, is about 30 to 45 minutes away. Want a dock of your own? Our Nashville-area waterfront homes are the place to start. The Great Smoky Mountains are a weekend trip at about four to five hours east on I-40.

Radnor Lake State Park sits just north of Brentwood on the Nashville side of the line.

Estimated drive times from Maryland Farms, given as ranges because traffic swings so much:

• Cool Springs Galleria: 10 to 20 minutes
• Downtown Franklin: 15 to 30 minutes
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center: 20 to 40 minutes
• Downtown Nashville (Broadway): 20 to 45 minutes
• Nashville International Airport (BNA): 20 to 40 minutes
• Murfreesboro: 40 to 60 minutes

Moving in from out of state? Our Greater Nashville relocation guide lays out every county around the city.

Homes and Neighborhoods in Brentwood

The Brentwood homes for sale right now run from a 2004 three-bedroom near $613,000 to a 1999 five-bedroom at $2.1 million. History runs deeper than that, too: Forge Seat, the Samuel Crockett house, dates to 1808.

Forge Seat, the Samuel Crockett house, built in 1808 in Brentwood.

In today's listings, under about $900,000 means smaller or older homes that may want updating. From $1.2 million to $1.5 million you'll see 1970s to 1990s homes with roughly 2,700 to 4,000 square feet, and $2.1 million buys a 5,938-square-foot home built in 1999. If you want less yard to keep up, read our condo and townhome guide before you tour. Working with a tighter budget? Our post on where to buy near Nashville under $800K covers nearby towns.

Homes for Sale in Brentwood Right Now

These homes were active on our site as of October 26, 2026. Prices and status can change at any time.

$612,750

3 beds | 2 baths | 1,697 sq ft

9782 Jupiter Forest Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027

MLS# RTC3626694

Listing courtesy of Benchmark Realty, LLC

View this home

$879,999

4 beds | 3 baths | 2,270 sq ft

1313 Yorkshire Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027

MLS# RTC3626441

Listing courtesy of Zeitlin Sotheby's International Realty

View this home

$1,200,000

5 beds | 3 baths | 2,676 sq ft

1213 Twin Springs Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027

MLS# RTC3623712

Listing courtesy of The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage

View this home

$1,499,900

4 beds | 5 baths | 4,000 sq ft

2145 Key Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027

MLS# RTC3624870

Listing courtesy of Onward Real Estate

View this home

$2,100,000

5 beds | 6 baths | 5,938 sq ft

9616 Deer Track Ct, Brentwood, TN 37027

MLS# RTC3611943

Listing courtesy of Compass RE

View this home

Listing data: Realtracs MLS as distributed by MLS GRID. IDX information is provided exclusively for personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

See all homes for sale in Brentwood

Schools in Brentwood

Addresses inside the City of Brentwood are served by Williamson County Schools, which runs two high schools in Brentwood, Brentwood High and Ravenwood High. School zones follow the street address and can change, so check the address with Williamson County Schools before you write an offer and never rely on the school field in a listing alone.

Is Brentwood Right for You?

Brentwood tends to fit buyers who want:

• Established neighborhoods close to Nashville
• A low city tax rate with a long track record
• Big parks and trails without leaving town
• Quick access to Maryland Farms, Cool Springs, and downtown

Think twice if you need a starter-home price, want brand-new construction, or can't stomach I-65 at rush hour. Franklin is the closest comparison, and our Franklin relocation guide walks through that move step by step.

Selling a Brentwood Home in 2026

The third-quarter numbers favor sellers in the $1 million to $1.9 million range, and Brentwood homes are drawing about two offers on average. A 61-day median on market says buyers still compare carefully, so pricing right on day one matters. Start with a free home value estimate, check your likely proceeds with the home sale calculator, and see how we market homes on our seller services page.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Brentwood, TN

Is Brentwood, TN expensive to live in?

Home prices are high. Redfin's median sale price for the three months ending September 2026 was $1,349,357, and the Census median household income is $182,088 (2020 to 2024).

What is the property tax rate in Brentwood, TN?

The combined 2026 rate is $1.49 per $100 of assessed value: 19 cents for the city and $1.30 for Williamson County. Homes are assessed at 25% of appraised value.

How far is Brentwood from downtown Nashville?

About 10 miles. Plan on 20 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day.

What school district serves Brentwood, TN?

Williamson County Schools serves addresses inside the city. Verify the zoned school by address with the district.

Is Brentwood in Williamson County or Davidson County?

The City of Brentwood is in Williamson County, but some homes with a Brentwood 37027 mailing address sit in Davidson County. Check the tax record.

See Brentwood Homes for Sale

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Whether you're buying or selling in Brentwood, our team knows Middle Tennessee and we'd love to help. MaX House, brokered by LPT Realty.

Cover photo: Brentwood Library Site by Dclemens1971, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos: Brentwood Tennessee Town Hall by Concord715, CC0; Radnor Lake by Kaldari, CC0; Forge Seat by Concord715, CC0; all via Wikimedia Commons.