Knoxville, Tennessee

Things are different here in Knoxville. Located along the Appalachian Mountains, Knoxville has great access to outdoor play areas ranging from mountain trails to river kayaking. The city has some of the vibe of a college town due to the presence of the University of Tennessee, but it also offers an amazing amount of cultural and commercial opportunities more commonly associated with larger cities. This includes great museums, a highly regarded zoo, and the wonderful downtown Market Square area -- a pedestrian mall that is the center for downtown events, rallies, concerts, hotels, shopping, and bars.

Downside: The economy has started to slow in Knoxville. Around a quarter of the city lives below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate could be better. Knoxville is a great spot to relocate to, particularly for those comfortable with more right-leaning politics, but you might want to find yourself a job before packing everything up and settling down here.

Home prices in Knoxville are phenomenal when compared to the national average, and a lot of the architecture here is early 20th century. The neighborhoods around the University are primarily comprised of young people, with plenty of other neighborhoods offering the family-friendly feel of suburban and small-town life. You’ll need a car to navigate around Knoxville, but know there is a surprising amount of traffic for a city this size.

If you're curious about what people do in Knoxville then check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Knoxville and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

The elevation of Knoxville shields the city from the brutal summers the rest of the south experiences but still has the lower prices and taxes that pull people south from Northeast and Western states. This means you can take advantage of local parks, and the Great Smoky Mountains Park year round, while holding on to a few more of the bucks you earn.