What if your budget could buy one more bedroom simply by crossing the river? If you are choosing between Madison Park’s broader Madison area and East Nashville, that is often the tradeoff. In this guide, you will see how price, space, commute, and renovation factors stack up so you can decide where your money works harder. Let’s dive in.
Price snapshot: the clear gap
As of January 2026, Redfin market snapshots show a median sale price around the mid $300Ks in Madison (roughly 357–358K) and about $585K in East Nashville. The price-per-square-foot spread is just as clear: Madison sits near about $224 per sqft while East Nashville trends around $345 per sqft. That is roughly a 50 percent premium per square foot in East Nashville. Use that gap to frame what you can expect for size and finish at a given price point.
Note on boundaries: this article uses ZIP 37115 as a proxy for Madison and ZIP 37206 as a proxy for core East Nashville because most public data is reported at the ZIP level.
Madison by the numbers
Madison’s median sale price and price per sqft signal strong relative value inside Davidson County. ACS 5‑year estimates report a median owner‑occupied housing value around the low to mid $300Ks in ZIP 37115, which matches the affordability story. The mean commute time to work is about 26.1 minutes in 37115, a manageable drive for many buyers seeking more space and yard. You can review ZIP‑level context in the 37115 profile on Census Reporter.
East Nashville by the numbers
East Nashville’s premium reflects amenity access and renovation intensity. In 37206, ACS data show median owner‑occupied values near $600K and a mean commute around 21.8 minutes, which tracks with its closer‑in location. Many blocks are walkable to popular dining and entertainment, which supports higher pricing. For additional ZIP context, see the 37206 profile on Census Reporter.
Budget comparison: what you get
A simple way to visualize value is with an illustrative size inference. Dividing median price by median price per sqft suggests Madison’s median equates to roughly 1,600 sqft while East Nashville’s median equates to about 1,700 sqft. This is not a literal typical home size, but it shows that a similar amount of space costs meaningfully more in East Nashville because of the higher price per sqft.
Here is a practical read on today’s budgets:
- Around $350K: In Madison you will typically find more single‑family options, often mid‑century homes with larger yards and light to moderate updates. In East Nashville, that same budget tends to target smaller cottages, condos, or properties needing significant work, with fewer single‑family choices at that price.
- Around $500K–$600K: In Madison, this range can reach larger renovated homes or newer builds. In East Nashville, you are closer to entry points for renovated bungalows or smaller new‑construction infill.
Housing styles and renovation potential
In Madison, you will see many single‑story ranches, Cape Cod, and mid‑century split‑levels, plus growing but measured infill. That mix creates opportunity to buy at a lower basis and add value with cosmetic upgrades. In East Nashville, renovation and teardown activity is higher, and new townhomes and higher‑end infill are common. That intensity can lift resale potential but may also mean pricier projects and more competition for contractors, a pattern noted in market roundups like Rocket’s East Nashville report.
Planning a project? Broad guidance suggests kitchen remodels often land in the tens of thousands and full‑home overhauls can reach $100+ per sqft depending on scope and finishes. Build conservatively and collect local bids. You can scan national ranges as a starting point in HomeGuide’s remodeling cost overview.
Commute, transit, and access
Commute times favor East Nashville slightly, with a mean around 21.8 minutes in 37206 versus about 26.1 minutes in 37115. Both are within a typical Nashville drive. Transit coverage exists on each side, with Madison served by WeGo corridor routes, including Route 76, and East Nashville covered by multiple core routes into downtown. Check current schedules and headways on the WeGo routes page.
Lifestyle access differs. East Nashville’s core blocks near Five Points offer strong walkability and a dense amenity mix, which many buyers value. Madison trades some of that walkability for price and space, plus proximity to Opry, Opry Mills, and key corridors like I‑65 and Gallatin Pike.
Long‑term outlook and watch‑outs
Over the past decade, East Nashville’s amenity‑driven demand and limited supply produced strong appreciation. Madison started from a lower base and has seen bursts of faster percentage gains as affordability seekers redirect. Short‑term data since 2022 show some cooling and provider‑to‑provider variation, so weight 5–10 year horizons when comparing appreciation stories.
Keep an eye on a few factors:
- Interest rates and buyer power. Higher rates reduce affordability and can slow price growth. Local reporting has noted buyer movement toward more affordable ZIPs like 37115, especially when rates rise. See Axios’s coverage of affordability shifts in Nashville’s submarkets for context on this trend in 2025 (Axios Nashville).
- Zoning and corridor plans. Supply‑side changes along key corridors can shape future density and pricing. Track Metro Council items and planning updates if you are targeting a multi‑year hold.
- Renovation intensity. East Nashville’s higher renovation and teardown activity can be an upside for resale but also a cost and timing variable. Madison’s activity is growing, but at a more moderate clip.
Quick decision checklist
Use this to pressure‑test your choice before you write an offer:
- Verify today’s live inventory and price‑per‑sqft for your exact streets. Medians move quickly.
- Pull Metro permit and parcel searches for active projects near any target property.
- Get preapproved for multiple scenarios, including purchase‑plus‑renovation if you plan updates. Use national ranges like HomeGuide’s cost guide to frame bids before you talk to local contractors.
- Drive both neighborhoods during your actual commute times, morning and evening, to gauge traffic, noise, and parking.
- Clarify your top two must‑haves. If space and yard win, Madison often stretches your dollars further. If walkability and an established dining scene win, East Nashville’s premium may be worth it.
When you are ready to compare specific homes side by side and tour on your schedule, our concierge team will build a short list that fits your budget and lifestyle. Connect with CHORD Real Estate to Request your personal Real Estate Concierge.
FAQs
What are the current median prices in Madison and East Nashville?
- As of January 2026, Madison’s median sale price is roughly the mid $300Ks (about 357–358K), while East Nashville is about $585K, based on Redfin market snapshots.
How does a $350K budget play out near Nashville?
- Around $350K, Madison typically offers more single‑family choices and larger yards; in East Nashville, that budget often targets smaller cottages, condos, or homes needing major work.
How do commute times compare between the two areas?
- ACS estimates show about 26.1 minutes in Madison’s 37115 ZIP and about 21.8 minutes in East Nashville’s 37206 ZIP, a modest difference that some buyers trade for space and price.
Is “Madison Park” the same as Madison for data purposes?
- Madison Park is a subdivision within the broader Madison area. Public data usually reports at the Madison neighborhood or 37115 ZIP level, which this article uses for comparisons.
What renovation costs should I plan for in either area?
- Budget tens of thousands for typical kitchen or bath projects and $100+ per sqft for major whole‑home renovations, then firm up with local contractor bids before you buy.
