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 itself, has in part the feeling 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.

Here's a quick review from a self-described "Yankee-transplant":
*Anyway, I agree that Knoxville has something for everyone, no matter who you are or where you hail from. I’m a Yankee transplant (40 years ago) and I love the four distinct seasons (with little need to own a snow shovel). I love the nearby hiking in the Smokies and boating on the many TVA lakes. I love the resurgence of downtown with many apartments and lofts that are popular with young professionals. There’s the Symphony plus dozens of venues for up-and-coming performers from country to edgy.*

Not Your Average Southern College Town

The Best Thing About Knoxville?

Looking at the city as a whole, 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.

Here's a local with a pov on living here: *I’ve spent my 20s and 30s in Knoxville. Lots of good loca restaurants and bars. Music scene is getting better with big arena shows at Thompson Bowling Arena and smaller venues like TN theater, Bijou, Mill and Mine. Knoxville is very democratic but knox county leans red, as does the whole state. Our legislature is generally terrible (see our brand new total abortion ban with no exceptions at all). It’s very close to the smokey mountains and Asheville, NC. Just three hours to Nashville or Atlanta if you want to visit a big city or see a concert.*

Economy is Stalling

The Worst Thing About Knoxville

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 a large number of other neighborhoods offering a family-friendly feel of suburban and small-town life. You’ll need a car for navigating around Knoxville, but know there is a surprising amount of traffic for a city this size.

If you're curious what people do in Knoxville then check out the calendar of events: https://www.visitknoxville.com/events/

In a Well-Priced, Old-Fashioned Home

Lifestyle of Knoxville

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.

A Southern Haven

Why You Should Move Here Now? 

**The Best Thing About Knoxville?** - Not Your Average Southern College Town

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 itself, has in part the feeling 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.  

**The Worst Thing About Knoxville** - Economy is Stalling

Looking at the city as a whole, 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. 

**How You Living?** - In a Well-Priced, Old-Fashioned Home

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 a large number of other neighborhoods offering a family-friendly feel of suburban and small-town life. You’ll need a car for navigating around Knoxville, but know there is a surprising amount of traffic for a city this size.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** - A Southern Haven 

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. 


“The Fort” is the area around the University of Tennessee where most students live. It’s a jumping neighborhood with plenty of apartments for inexpensive living, tons of bars and restaurants and all a short walk or shuttle bus to campus. It also has two hospitals so plenty of medical professionals also live here and give the area more than just a college vibe. Graduate students looking for a more quiet scene will often choose South Knoxville, just across the river from campus. 
- The Fort
- South Knoxville


College Students

The Fort

Old City (Warehouse District)  is the coolest neighborhood in the city, with youngsters flocking here for the remodeled, affordable housing and tons of bars and restaurants that make it a nightlife haven. Some graduates also choose to remain in the University of Tennessee neighborhood to keep living that Volunteer lifestyle. 
- Old City
- University of Tennessee 


Young Professionals 

Old City

Shady Grove/Choto Estates is a great starting point for families moving to Knoxville. It ranks among the best neighborhoods in the state for the quality of the schools, safety, and percentage of homes that are owned. Great homes, beautiful kid-friendly streets, and a tight community make it perfect for new families. If you’re looking for a more social environment look at Fourth and Gill. Just minutes from Downtown the neighborhood has a mix of young professionals, families and retirees. Nearby Broadway Ave also gives locals easy access to all the shopping, restaurants and bars you could want.
- Shady Grove/Choto Estates
- Oakwood
- Fourth and Gill


Families

Shady Grove

Knoxville

**What is it like to live in Knoxville, TN?**

I’ve just read many answers and I agree with all but one of them. That was so negative that I wonder what his deal is.

Anyway, I agree that Knoxville has something for everyone, no matter who you are or where you hail from. I’m a Yankee transplant (40 years ago) and I love the four distinct seasons (with little need to own a snow shovel). I love the nearby hiking in the Smokies and boating on the many TVA lakes. I love the resurgence of downtown with many apartments and lofts that are popular with young professionals. There’s the Symphony plus dozens of venues for up-and-coming performers from country to edgy.

We have neighborhoods from urban-historic to over-the-top luxurious. There’s shopping from unique boutiques in the Old City/Market Square to big box stores in major shopping areas, and all in between. The University of Tennessee attracts a diverse student body as well as world-class speakers and classy events.

Commuting is relatively a breeze. A traffic jam on I-40 and I-75 of more than 15-minutes is a big deal. Getting from home to downtown or another section of the city is pretty easy, and soon you would suss out all kinds of alternate routes if necessary.

Oh, did I mention food? We have probably more unique restaurants, locally owned, here than anywhere. No matter your taste, you’ll find it, from felafels to fried green tomatoes to haute French cuisine. And microbrews by the dozens.

Zoo? Famous for breeding and rearing red pandas. Museums? Yes, and yes. Oh, and the Tennessee River and its paddle wheel dinner cruise. You could get on a Huckleberry Finn raft and float from here to New Orleans.

Believe it or not, I’m not with the Chamber of Commerce or a realty company. I’m just thrilled that fate brought me to Knoxville those decades ago. And, oh yeah, Go Big Orange! (Hope you like the SEC)



**What is it like to live in Knoxville, TN?**

The first thing you have to understand is that Knoxville is a university town with the University of a Tennessee having it’s main campus located in the downtown area. This brings a lot of young people to the city. The university also brings music, theater, and sports to the area. Outside the university there is a thriving local music scene. The city is close to the Great Smokey Mountain National Zpark so outside activities such as camping and hiking are plentiful. Downtown has reimagined and reinvented itself to be a thriving commercial, culinary, and arts center but still the historic mountain culture is the overwhelming cultural influence.

**I'm going to Knoxville, TN. Where's the best place to live?**

It depends on where you work and what you like to do. Knoxville traffic is a far cry from the congestion of Atlanta or LA. But, it can still be a chore to have to drive from West Knoxville to downtown at 5:30 pm every day. But, Knoxville is not over run with “bad neighborhoods” so there will be something that you find suitable that is near pretty much anywhere you you want to be.

If you’re moving here permanently or for several years, then I would start by signing a 6 month lease on a house or apartment that is convenient to work/school. Then see what it’s like to live there and go to the places you like to go for social/recreational activities.


If you like outdoor activities like mountain biking or trail running then South Knoxville (C.) could be a good option, but it’s kind of far to get to West Knox (Farragut) every day (which is west of anything in the image above). I just recently moved downtown to the old city (D.) because there’s very little traffic slow-down on my way to/from work in Powell (North of this map) and I can walk or bike to 90% of the places I like to hang out, ride, run, etc. While this was a good move for me, it wouldn’t be great for everyone. I moved here from the Green area labeled B (zip codes here: 37921 & 37909). In my opinion that’s the area that is most conveniently located to almost every part of Knoxville. The area in red (A.) is called Sequoia Hills. The houses here are older, pretty nice, and mostly very large and expensive. However, there are also some reasonably priced apartments in this area. My sister-in-law and several friends live there and they like it. It is walking distance to parks, walking/running trails, a few markets and restaurants, and the river. The 4th and Gill area is also an option. It’s walking distance to downtown, local breweries and beer gardens, and restaurants. The houses here are largely older bungalow style. The area in brown (E.) is on the north edge of campus and is known as The Fort. I only mention it in case you are coming here to go to the University of Tennessee. Otherwise… Not there.

There’s much more to Knoxville than this. If you will be working in Oak Ridge, or West Knoxville then look into Farragut or Hardin Valley. If you will work in Powell, Halls, or North Knoxville then realtor websites like realtor dot com can be useful in refining your search. Good luck, and welcome to Knoxville!

**What's it like to live in Knoxville?**

I've been here around 5 years now and can say that I do like living here. If you're not overly offended to the color orange, you will find most everyone here extremely friendly. I've lived downtown and loved it. But, for convenience, it is somewhat lacking (there isn't a grocery store within a few miles). The Old City is a fun little area full of eccentric folks, drunks, bums, etc.

I've moved out to the burbs and have found it to be your typical existence. You can get a lot of house for the dollar here, and if you're in the right areas, crime isn't really an issue at all. I find west knoxville to be nice, but overly congested in areas and not overly worth paying the premium to live there.

Regarding religion, racism, and politics, if you ignore the lunatic fringe, you will find it to be a relatively open town for MOST views. Obviously it's not like Asheville where topless protests are allowed for just about anything, but there is a level of discourse in the city that I find to be respectful. Please note that I say the city. The county is obviously going to be a bit less progressive, and the further you go from the city, the more conservative it gets.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Streaking Capital

Looklyloo Score: 71

We're on it!