Where to Buy Near Nashville Under $800K (2026)

Got a budget around $800,000 and a Nashville move on the calendar? Y'all have real choices. In-town Nashville homes for sale can stretch that budget fast, so a lot of buyers look at the towns ringing the city, where the same money can mean more space, newer construction, or a lake down the road.

Our MaX House team helps buyers all over Middle Tennessee, and we pulled the latest numbers on six towns so you can pick where to start touring. Here's what we'll cover:

The Quick Comparison

Median sale prices are from Redfin for the three months ending September 2026. Tax estimates use each town's combined city and county rate and Tennessee's 25% residential assessment. Drive times are routing estimates widened for traffic.

For the bigger picture, Greater Nashville Realtors reported a September 2026 median of $510,000 across its nine-county region, up from $490,000 a year earlier, with 2,284 closings, an average of 57 days from listing to contract, and 15,536 active listings. That's a lot of inventory, which gives buyers room to compare.

Town by Town: Where $800K Goes Furthest

Murfreesboro: The Value Pick

Murfreesboro is the Rutherford County seat, about 33 miles southeast of downtown on I-24. Its median of $428,022 is the lowest of our six, and with 636 homes sold in September 2026, it's a busy market with lots to choose from. The city grew from 152,769 people at the 2020 Census to an estimated 171,178 in 2025, according to the Census Bureau.

Watch out for: I-24 at rush hour, which is the price of the lower median. Plan on 40 to 60 minutes to downtown. Read our Murfreesboro pros and cons, then browse homes for sale in Murfreesboro.

Gallatin: Sumner County at a Lower Price

Gallatin, the Sumner County seat, posted a median of $431,544, up 5.0% from a year earlier, with 325 homes sold in September 2026, per Redfin. Its combined city and county tax rate is $1.9505 per $100 of assessed value ($0.5295 city plus $1.421 county). Old Hickory Lake runs along the south side of the county.

Watch out for: the drive. Gallatin City Hall is about 29 miles from downtown, so plan on 35 to 55 minutes. Homes also sat longer, with a median of 70 days on market. See Gallatin homes for sale.

Spring Hill: Newer Homes, Two Counties

Spring Hill is one of the fastest growing cities in the state. It went from 50,005 people in 2020 to an estimated 61,336 in 2025, according to the Census Bureau. The median was $499,752, down 5.7% from a year earlier, so buyers have some leverage.

Watch out for: the longest drive on our list, about 37 miles to Lower Broadway, or 45 to 65 minutes. The city also sits in two counties, Williamson and Maury, so taxes and schools depend on the address. Our Spring Hill pros and cons covers it, and here are current Spring Hill homes for sale.

Hendersonville: Lake Life in Sumner County

Hendersonville sits on Old Hickory Lake about 20 miles northeast of downtown. The median was $514,755, up 3.5% from a year earlier, and the combined tax rate is $2.0093.

Watch out for: Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and I-65 traffic at peak hours, and waterfront homes that can push well past this budget. Read our Hendersonville pros and cons and browse Hendersonville homes for sale.

Mount Juliet: Closest to the Airport

Mount Juliet, in Wilson County, is about 17 miles east of downtown and 11 to 13 miles from Nashville International Airport (BNA). The median was $573,227, about flat from a year earlier, and its combined tax rate of $1.4457 is the lowest of the six towns here.

Watch out for: I-40 backups and a slower pace of sales, with a median of 79 days on market. Our Mount Juliet moving guide has the details, and here are Mount Juliet homes for sale.

Franklin: The Stretch

Franklin, the Williamson County seat, is about 21 miles south of downtown. Its median was $863,089, up 12.8% from a year earlier, so an $800,000 budget means shopping below the typical sale. Smaller and older homes, townhomes, and homes farther from downtown Franklin are where this budget works.

Watch out for: the highest tax rate in our comparison, $2.2433 inside city limits in the Franklin Special School District, and fast price growth. Browse Franklin homes for sale.

Lakes, Mountains, and Getting Around

Middle Tennessee trades mountains for lakes and rolling hills. Old Hickory Lake, a Cumberland River reservoir, borders Hendersonville, Gallatin, and Mount Juliet. J. Percy Priest Lake sits east of Nashville and reaches into Wilson and Rutherford counties. If you want the Smokies, that's a weekend trip east on I-40.

Sunrise on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, about 25 to 45 minutes from downtown Nashville.

On the south side, the Natchez Trace Parkway begins just west of Franklin and winds southwest through the countryside. The National Park Service counted 7,994,783 visits to the parkway in 2025 (March 13, 2026 release).

The Double Arch Bridge over Birdsong Hollow on the Natchez Trace Parkway, near Franklin.

Estimated drive times to downtown Nashville, from routing estimates widened for traffic:

• Mount Juliet: about 17 miles, 20 to 40 minutes. BNA is 11 to 13 miles away.
• Franklin: about 21 miles, 25 to 45 minutes.
• Hendersonville: about 20 miles, 25 to 45 minutes.
• Gallatin: about 29 miles, 35 to 55 minutes.
• Murfreesboro: about 33 miles, 40 to 60 minutes.
• Spring Hill: about 37 miles, 45 to 65 minutes.

Drive the commute at rush hour before you commit. Remote and hybrid workers can widen the map.

Homes Under $800K Near Nashville Right Now

Here are a few active listings under $800,000 in these towns as of October 24, 2026. Click through for the latest price and status.

$459,900

4 beds | 3 baths

311 Sadler Ct, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

MLS# RTC3622584

Listing courtesy of simpliHOM

View this home

$540,000

4 beds | 3 baths

106 Sorrel Ct, Hendersonville, TN 37075

MLS# RTC3620094

Listing courtesy of simpliHOM

View this home

$554,900

4 beds | 3 baths

1017 Jackston Mack Way, Gallatin, TN 37066

MLS# RTC3623649

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Realty

View this home

$589,000

4 beds | 2 baths

1738 Dryden Dr, Spring Hill, TN 37174

MLS# RTC3620256

Listing courtesy of Gray Fox Realty

View this home

$625,000

5 beds | 3 full, 1 half baths

744 Bench Ln, Mount Juliet, TN 37122

MLS# RTC3622146

Listing courtesy of Team Wilson Real Estate Partners

View this home

$724,900

4 beds | 2 full, 1 half baths

317 Millhouse Dr, Franklin, TN 37064

MLS# RTC3624325

Listing courtesy of Compass

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 Greater Nashville Homes

Run Your Numbers

Property taxes swing a lot from town to town. Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value, then applies the county rate and any city rate. On a $500,000 home, that's about $1,807 a year at Mount Juliet's combined rate and about $2,804 at Franklin's. Start with our affordability calculator to find a comfortable price and see what a monthly payment looks like.

Buying your first place? Our first-time home buyer guide walks through every step. Want something brand new? See our new construction guide.

School Districts by Town

Every town here has its own mix of districts, and the lines don't always follow city limits:

• Murfreesboro: Murfreesboro City Schools (pre-K to 6th grade, mostly inside city limits) and Rutherford County Schools.
• Gallatin and Hendersonville: Sumner County Schools.
• Spring Hill: Williamson County Schools or Maury County Public Schools, depending on the address.
• Mount Juliet: Wilson County Schools.
• Franklin: Franklin Special School District (pre-K to 8th grade) and Williamson County Schools.

Always verify school zoning by address with the district before you buy.

Which Town Fits You?

• Most house for the money: Murfreesboro or Gallatin.
• Newer neighborhoods: Spring Hill.
• Lake life: Hendersonville or Mount Juliet.
• Shortest airport run and lowest tax rate: Mount Juliet.
• Franklin address: Franklin, with flexibility on size and age.

Selling Before You Buy?

Lots of buyers have a home to sell first. Get a free home value estimate, and see how we line up buying and selling at the same time.

What's My Home Worth?

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Near Nashville Under $800K

Where can I buy a home near Nashville for under $800K?

Murfreesboro, Gallatin, Spring Hill, Hendersonville, and Mount Juliet all had median sale prices well under $800,000 for the three months ending September 2026, according to Redfin. Franklin's median was above $800,000, though homes under that price do come up.

Which of these towns has the lowest home prices?

Of the six towns in this guide, Murfreesboro had the lowest median sale price at $428,022, with Gallatin close behind at $431,544.

Which town is closest to the Nashville airport?

Mount Juliet. It's about 11 to 13 miles from BNA.

Which town has the lowest property taxes?

Mount Juliet's combined rate of $1.4457 per $100 of assessed value is the lowest of the six. Franklin's $2.2433, inside the Franklin Special School District, is the highest.

What is the median home price in Greater Nashville?

Greater Nashville Realtors reported a $510,000 median for September 2026 across its nine-county region.

Talk to MaX House

Ready to tour? Tell us your budget and your commute, and we'll build a short list across all six towns. Explore more Greater Nashville homes while you plan. MaX House, brokered by LPT Realty.

Cover photo: Nashville, TN skyline by Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos: Sunrise on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville by dan-holland, CC BY 2.0; Double Arch Bridge over Birdsong Hollow on the Natchez Trace Parkway by the National Park Service, public domain; all via Wikimedia Commons.