Is Knoxville TN a Good Place to Live? Here’s What it’s Like!

Knoxville is an excellent place for residence. Known for its awesome Southern food, there is no shortage of cultural heritage in the city.

The main downside of Knoxville is its higher than average crime rate of 51 per 1,000 residents. But the upsides, like the affordability and highly rated education system offset that downside.

Is Knoxville a Good Place to Live?

Yes, Knoxville is a good place to live despite the reported crime rate. Like all cities in the US, or even in any country, one cannot help the existence of crimes.

Knoxville is a great city to live in because the residents can expect a dense suburban feel. In addition, most of the residents here rent their houses, so you will not feel alienated if you do not own a house.

There are many restaurants and parks in the city, and one can expect a lot of jobs here. Many young professionals live in the city. Many people claim that it is still one of the best 50 places to live in.

Pros of Living in Knoxville

1. Affordability

If you live here, you will save a lot of money in:

• Groceries
• Healthcare
• Housing
• Utilities
• Transportation

The cost-of-living index for Knoxville is 86/100. What it means is that the cost of living is affordable. None of the things here cost above the national average.

Read Also: Is Colorado Springs a Good Place to Live In?

2. Excellent educational system

There are many public schools in Knoxville, and many of them are known for preparing their students for college. There are 80 public schools here, and many of them have an A+ rating.

The high school graduation rate in Knox county is about 85%, which is around average. There are 40% of students who identity as minorities, with 11% of those being Hispanic.

Overall, the Knoxville education system sits above average compared to the rest of the United States.

Read Also: Is Boston a Good Place to Live?

3. Lots of things to do

There are many things to do in the city. These are:

• Nightlife
• Outdoor activities
• Family activities

There are also many health clubs and gyms. The diversity of activities here makes it one of the most attractive cities in the US.

4. Lots of jobs

Knoxville is the country’s 11^th on the list of the best cities to look for a job. They offer robust employment to people who have skills. Some examples of these are banking, manufacturing, tourism and defense contracting.

Cons of Living in Knoxville

1. Crime is a problem

Although crime is a problem, Knoxville is not the worst in the US. The main problem here is that property theft is 50% higher than the US average.

2. Lack of public transportation

You must have a car to be able to get by. The city has to work on its public transportation system. In addition to this, there are few sidewalks, which means you cannot ride a bike to get around.

3. Summers are hot

Summers in Knoxville are extremely hot. For quite some time, Knoxville does not even have a change of seasons. During summer, you will certainly want to go outside.

Best Suburbs to Live in Knoxville

1. Farragut

The population of Farragut is 23,100, and it is a good place to live because of its educational system. Farragut also offers a rural feel, and many of the residents here own their homes. A lot of the people you will meet here are retirees. 

Public schools in Farragut are highly rated. Crime is neutrally rated, while nightlife is not as good as in the other areas. Nevertheless, it is an excellent place for families who want peace.

2. Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge is one of the best places because it is safe. The city has an A rating as a place of residence. The crime is a B-, but it is more populated than Farragut. The population of Oak Ridge is now 29,000.

The feel of the area is suburban, with many young professionals and retirees converging in the same place. Like Farragut, the schools here have a high rating.

About 61% of the residents here own their homes, and the rest are rented. As far as jobs are concerned, though, you are better off living in Farragut than in Oak Ridge.

3. Maryville

With a population similar to Oak Ridge, Maryville offers excellent public schools. However, the housing cost here is much higher, as the average rent costs $882 per month. Still, it is lower than the national average of $1,096 per month.

One thing to note is that the population density here is high. About 68% of the residents own their house, and only 32% of the residents rent.

There are few things to do here compared to other areas, and the health and fitness rating of the community is merely a B-.

4. Alcoa

Alcoa is an excellent place if you are looking for a sparsely populated area. Its population is only 9,800. The feel of the area is sparse suburban. Many of the residents here own their houses.

Like Farragut, the public schools here have a high rating. The median rent is only $816, making it an excellent place to look for a rented property.

There is a bit of a problem, though, as there are 3,626.9 theft cases here for every 100,000 residents. It is significantly higher than the national average of 2,042 per 100,000 residents. There are also many cases of assault and motor vehicle theft.  

5. Louisville

Louisville is a pleasant suburb if you are looking for peace and quiet. With a  population of 4,000 people, there is a mix of rural and urban feel here.

Most residents own their homes, and the split is 90-10. It means that 90% of the residents here own their homes.

The median cost of rent here is $883, and one will be surprised that despite the population, there are many jobs to choose from. Commute, however, is one of the worst. You must have a car to successfully thrive here.

Conclusion

Knoxville is one of the best places to live because the cost of living is low. Knoxville’s quality of life is much better than in most US cities. The city is not too crowded and sits only at 45^th place among the most populated cities in the US.

Choose what matters to you from the best suburbs—despite a high crime rate, the cost of living, in general, is much lower in Knoxville than in most cities in Tennessee.