The Cost of Living Diaries: Williamson County, TN
Get the inside scoop on what it's like to be a local in Williamson County, TN.
Welcome to The Cost of Living Diaries. How much does it cost to live in Williamson County, Tennessee? What’s an average mortgage, a cocktail, or a week’s worth of childcare? Keep reading because we asked a Williamson County local to tell us all about the cost of living in this thriving city!
Madison Slandzicki
Owner
Kailey Cakes
Situated in Middle Tennessee in the thriving Nashville metro area, Williamson County boasts the perfect lifestyle. Here, career opportunities abound, neighborhoods are filled with friendly, welcoming people, outdoor attractions run the gamut, and the food and drink scene is diverse and lively.
Madison Slandzicki, who spent the last few years of her childhood in Williamson County, left the area for college in Knoxville in 2015. She returned to the region, where she attended The Art Institute of Nashville and later launched Kailey Cakes, a custom cake shop and bakery in Franklin, in May 2020.
What made you want to move back to Williamson County?
Definitely the atmosphere. I love all the people here. Everyone is so friendly. I feel like the community is great. It’s something that you can’t really find anywhere else. (My husband and I) love it, love it here. Just definitely, the community is a big, big part of it.
How would you describe the community and its residents?
I would say friendly, for sure. I feel like everyone is really welcoming. Everyone is always talking about their clubs and their groups and trying to get everyone involved. It’s a huge community, but there’s still that small-town feel.
What’s it been like to launch and grow a business in Williamson County?
It’s been wonderful! I never expected it to explode this much — like in all my little dreams, could have never imagined it. We’re right off West Main in Franklin. The whole area was kind of small (when we opened). There weren’t a lot of shops at first, and now, there’s another café and some little restaurants. We loved the space. We loved how it’s kind of an up-and-coming area.
The neighborhood apps are great. People I don’t even know — it’s wonderful — they’re promoting in the neighborhood apps or Nextdoor. Everyone’s super friendly. Once they try something, they’re all like posting in that group or sharing. It’s definitely how we’ve done so well is, just by word of mouth.
What do you love most about living in Williamson County?
I would say the downtown area of Franklin is my favorite. My husband and I go there all the time. The restaurants, we love them. We love going out, bringing all our friends there, walking around downtown. It’s just very quaint. It’s not like “crazy Nashville” downtown; it’s very small and just beautiful, and everyone’s friendly.
What’s your favorite restaurant, and about how much would you pay for dinner and drinks for two?
We love Cork & Cow — that’s our favorite restaurant, for sure. It’s a steakhouse, but with wonderful cocktails, a great atmosphere — the decorations there are amazing. It’s beautiful. You walk in, and you just feel like you’re in a whole different place. It’s very homey and not too rustic, but just enough. The staff is amazing. (Dinner and drinks for two) is probably about $150, I would say.
Do you have a favorite coffee shop in the county? How much would your go-to drink cost?
I love Curio Brewing Co. They’re amazing. Super friendly. It’s family-owned. Their coffee is so good. I’m obsessed with it. I like their cold brew. They do it on tap, which is really cool. They also do beer, but they do the coffee during the day and then beer at night. (A cold brew) would be around $4.
Want to know more?
To learn more about the Williamson County area, check out the latest edition of Livability Williamson County, TN.
