The vast majority of people who live in Nashville say they can't afford to buy a house in the city, according to a new poll from Vanderbilt University.

Why it matters: Affordability remains a deep concern across the city, the poll shows, and residents want to see leaders do more to ease the cost of housing.

By the numbers: 82% of poll respondents said they couldn't afford to buy a house in Davidson County.

• A growing share of Nashvillians are pushing for progress on the issue, with 73% saying Mayor Freddie O'Connell should make affordable housing a priority. That issue was second only to education.

Yes, but: Residents have backed away from past support for multifamily housing complexes that would boost density and create new options for buyers. The issue has become a political hot potato as local leaders look for ways to address affordability.

• A slim majority of 53% say multifamily housing should only be allowed in dense areas, not in smaller neighborhoods. In last year's poll, most residents thought multifamily housing should be allowed everywhere.

What they're saying: Speaking to reporters on Friday, O'Connell said his office was working to build out the city's affordable housing through the Unified Housing Strategy, which calls for a massive surge in supply.

• O'Connell's last budget included $45 million for housing priorities.

State of play: In fiscal year 2025, city funding supported the construction and preservation of more than 1,800 affordable housing units, according to Metro housing data.

Reality check: Soaring housing costs are a problem nationwide, not just in Nashville. It is a bipartisan concern that federal officials are grappling with, too.

• Prices in many cities skyrocketed during the pandemic, and higher mortgage rates exacerbated the problem, shrinking people's buying power.

The big picture: Economic anxiety permeates the poll results. The share of residents urging leaders to focus on "bringing new good jobs to the city" more than doubled — from 18% last year to 43% now.

• Only 8% called Nashville's economy "very good."

What we're watching: O'Connell's spokesperson told Axios the mayor's upcoming budget proposal will "undoubtedly include a focus on affordability."

How it works: The Vanderbilt Poll was conducted Feb. 20-March 14 and included 1,048 Nashville residents. The margin of error is +/- 4.05 percentage points.

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A new monthlong guerrilla ad campaign is hitting Nashville on today to bring attention to small businesses that have been affected by tariffs.

Why it matters: According to surveys by the Council on Foreign Relations, 2 in 5 Americans mistakenly believe a tariff is paid by a foreign country. Research from the New York Fed and Columbia University shows that nearly 90% of the tariffs President Trump enacted in 2025 were paid by U.S. firms and consumers.

• The nonpartisan business group behind the campaign, Small Businesses Against Tariffs, says it's trying to clarify the record and spending six figures to do so.

The other side: Axios asked the White House for comment on the campaign and what message officials would like to send to small businesses about tariffs, but the press office did not respond.

Zoom in: The campaign is targeting Nashville, Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago and Newark because they are located in states hit hardest by tariffs.

• The cities can expect to see posters and decals plastered around town through April.
• Tennessee paid an estimated $3.5 billion in tariffs last year, the Tennessean reported.

State of play: Last month, the Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariff agenda, declaring most of it illegal.

Yes, but: Companies and consumers have already paid hundreds of millions to cover the fees, and Trump has predicted refunds will be litigated in court for two years.

• In the meantime, Trump has launched temporary 10% global tariffs on all countries using an avenue not subject to the Supreme Court decision.

What we're watching: This month, a top trade court judge ordered the Trump administration to jumpstart the refunding process to U.S. companies.

• U.S. Customs says it's finalizing a four-step process to allow companies to apply.

🤝 Metro finalized its agreement with East Bank developer The Fallon Company.

• Under the deal, which is based on estimated property values, Fallon will pay the city between $7.1 million and $16.3 million in total rent by 2036. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

🏳️‍⚧️ The Tennessee House passed a bill that would create a public list of transgender patients' personal data. (Tennessean)

ICE is looking for co-working space in Nashville as it expands its administrative office presence across the country. (Tennessee Lookout)

The Vanderbilt women were upset by Notre Dame and the Tennessee men were annihilated by Michigan over the weekend, leaving the Volunteer State with zero teams in March Madness.

Inside the heartbreak: In a game that went down to the wire, Vanderbilt's memorable season was cut short in a 67-64 loss to the Irish.

• Tennessee was outclassed by top-seeded Michigan 95-62.
• It's the third consecutive season Tennessee fell in the Elite 8.

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👋 Adam here! Part of this edition of Axios Nashville was written in the lobby of a dealership where I waited while mechanics worked on my car.

The bright side: The playlist in the lobby was packed with synth-heavy pop hits of the 1980s.

• Our new playlist embraces that vibe, with tracks like "Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson and "Borderline" by Madonna.

Listen to our playlist on Spotify