A little over a decade ago, Nashville was known as a city that was not only affordable but welcoming. Often described as a “big small town,” the strong sense of community was almost as big a draw as the reasonable home prices.

For a while, more than 100 people a day moved to Music City. The population boom brought thousands of new residents to Nashville, but it also fundamentally changed the city. It was no longer an oversized small town but an actual city with big city prices. The fabric of the community changed as well, with businesses that were once landmarks being replaced by new ventures catering to the city’s new residents.

The new Nashville isn’t better or worse than the old, but it is different, and it’s decidedly more expensive. Priced out of the city proper, home buyers have been flocking to Nashville’s suburbs, but the most popular ones have become pricey as well.

So where should homebuyers turn for the charm of old Nashville without the high prices of Franklin or Murfreesboro? We’d suggest Springfield.

Located north of Nashville, Springfield is the county seat of Robertson County. This small city of about 20,000 people has a lot going for it, most notably the historic downtown.

On Main Street, you’ll find beautifully preserved shop fronts that are now home to small businesses, restaurants, and bars. Residents and visitors can sip a local beer at BS Brew Works, wake up with a coffee from Historic Perk Coffee Shop, grab a cocktail and a bite at Mystic Picnic, or fill up with some classic barbecue at Willie Mae’s. Nearby, they can pick up local art or an antique at Vintage Whimsy or relax at Renew Massage Therapy. Springfield’s thriving small business community means there’s plenty to do and explore.

The vibrant downtown also hosts regular community events. During the warmer months, 1st Fridays bring food trucks, live music, and vintage cars to downtown. Free horse-drawn carriage rides are available during the holiday season, and local businesses host special events throughout the year. Recently, the city celebrated the lighting of the historic Springfield Capitol Theatre’s vintage-style neon sign. (The locals were so friendly and proud of this sign-lighting event, they sent us this video, which you can watch here.)

Springfield’s charm isn’t an accident. The city is two years into a 20-year comprehensive growth plan, aiming to make the city an even better place for residents and businesses alike. Plans include improving parks, encouraging job growth, and guiding the city's growth to preserve its agricultural history. If you’re looking for a community on the rise, especially if you’re considering starting a small business, Springfield is a great choice.

We spoke to Breyanna, owner-operator of The Opal House, a new event space in the heart of Springfield. In addition to hosting private events like baby showers and graduation parties, she also welcomes other small businesses and startups to run their events in her space. She’s found the city welcoming, both as a new resident and as a small business. Eager to encourage entrepreneurs, the city’s economic development board has been an excellent source of support for new businesses.

*Breyanna and Zelda chat outside the Opal House*

While the historic district is thriving, there are still large swathes of downtown waiting to be developed. South of the railroad tracks, antique industrial buildings stand empty, ready to house the town’s next small business.

The brick buildings and grid-like streets of downtown are just part of what makes Springfield special. The town is an urban retreat surrounded by farms and forests. Family farms offer space for weddings and retreats as well as supply Springfield’s weekly farmers market. Honeysuckle Hill Farm offers family fun during the fall months, with bonfires, pumpkin patches, rides, and a corn maze. If you’re looking for an affordable home, the more rural and suburban parts of Springfield are your best bet. While they might not have the same conveniences as a house downtown, they’re still a quick drive to the restaurants and shops while offering more space, privacy, and affordability.

While Springfield may have Mayberry levels of charm, it’s still a real functioning community with hospitals, grocery stores, and major chain restaurants. In addition to multiple independent practices and two urgent care facilities, the city is home to TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center, a full-service hospital with specialties from emergency care to orthopedics. The campus even includes a primary care office for regular preventative care.

The farmers’ market may be fun, but for daily needs, most of us rely on grocery stores. Luckily, Springfield has an Aldi, Kroger, Walmart, and an H.G. Hill all within the city limits. Residents can also pick up prepared food and Latino staples at Amigo Market. North of downtown, the Hancock Family Farm Market sells locally grown fruits, vegetables, meat, and baked goods right from the farm where they grow the produce.

In addition to the boutiques downtown, Springfield is home to major retailers like Walmart, Belk, Lowe’s, Dollar General, and Goodwill. If the local offerings still don’t meet your needs, the Rivergate Mall in Madison is only a little over 30 minutes away, and Hendersonville’s sprawling shopping districts are around 45 minutes south.

While around half of Middle Tennessee residents commute to another county for work, Springfield and Robertson County have a thriving industrial and logistics sector for those looking for a job close to home. The Electrolux Appliance factory is the largest employer in Springfield, expanding its manufacturing campus in 2021 with a $250 million warehouse project. Aerospace company Airtech International opened a manufacturing center in 2015 and has since doubled the size of its factory.

The open spaces of Robertson County are also a source of economic opportunity. In addition to major logistics centers for companies like Lowe’s and Macy’s, Robertson County has a large agricultural sector. Around 1,200 farms cover more than 200,000 acres and offer employment both directly in agriculture and in the many industries needed to support it.

Regardless of whether you’re walking on city sidewalks or country roads, Springfield is a friendly, welcoming city. Breyanna described it as feeling like a family. For those looking for a sense of community, this might be the town for you.

Of course, there are plenty of towns with nice downtowns and a sense of community. If you want a historic downtown, Franklin’s is famous. What makes Springfield special is its proximity to Nashville and its relative affordability. Without traffic, it’s an easy 30-minute drive into Music City. Even with traffic, the drive is far less congested than the roads to Murfreesboro or Williamson County, and shorter than the trek up to Columbia.

You might have noticed we used the term “relative affordability” to describe Springfield. While the town is far more affordable than its comparable neighbors, it’s still not the cheapest neighborhood in Middle Tennessee. Our friend Rachel originally had her heart set on Springfield and its picture-perfect downtown, but ultimately purchased a house in nearby Goodlettsville. She found a larger, less expensive home that was fifteen minutes closer to Nashville.

Still, the slightly higher cost isn’t for nothing. Goodlettsville is a lovely town, but it doesn’t have the same charming main street or close-knit community. You’ll certainly pay less for a home in Springfield than you will in Nashville, but you’ll still pay a little more for the quality of life in Springfield than in another suburb. Looking at it by the numbers, at the time this article was written in April 2026, the median home price in Springfield was around $360,000 compared to a median price of $527,000 in Nashville. Remember, you can change pretty much anything about your home except the location. If the community you're in is important to you, then it may be worth getting a house that requires a little more TLC than your dream home in the wrong location.

It’s also important to keep the future in mind. Springfield seems primed for rapid growth in the near future, even as the Nashville-area housing market stagnates. If you’re hoping for a return on your investment, this is a good area to consider. But this population boom could also mean more traffic. It’s worth considering if you plan to commute to Nashville.

If you’re looking for the small town-big city feel of Old Nashville without the New Nashville prices, Springfield is hard to beat. With its historic downtown, strong sense of community, and eye towards the future, this town on the rise could be an amazing new home for any aspiring entrepreneur, family, or remote worker.

Ready to explore Springfield? We’re here to help. Whether you’re listing your current home or searching for your first house, we’re here to be your guide - to the neighborhood and the process. Reach out to Zelda to get started today.

Photography by Pal Sheldon www.palsheldon.com

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