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.

Not Your Average Southern College Town

LookyLOO Review of 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 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**](https://www.visitknoxville.com/events/). 

We highly recommend visiting Knoxville and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) 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](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle

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? 

**Status_Educator4198**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

There is a lot to do here. Tons of outside activities, lots with the Smokey mountains, our own little tourist trap with gatlinburg, an amazing zoo, wonderful markets, and plenty of the usual movies, shopping, etc.

This is what I could call a college city vs a college town. College sports are king as opposed to professional sports. But that also bring good food and a general smart population.

For more reviews of what living in Knoxville is like from locals, check out [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/knoxville/reviews).

Reviews of Knoxville from Locals

**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

**ImissBagels**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

I'm going to get downvoted like crazy I bet.. I came from the lower Hudson Valley in NY, over 8 years ago so I didn't get all the hate for moving. We like the natural beauty here, all the outdoors things to do, the weather is so much better than NY, taxes are better. We left NY moderate Republicans, living in a red state has turned us into liberal and Democrat voters. The difference in education standards is very evident. I find northerners to be more kind, but less friendly. Here people have been friendly, but it seems less kind.

**Status_Educator4198**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

There is a lot to do here. Tons of outside activities, lots with the Smokey mountains, our own little tourist trap with gatlinburg, an amazing zoo, wonderful markets, and plenty of the usual movies, shopping, etc.

This is what I could call a college city vs a college town. College sports are king as opposed to professional sports. But that also bring good food and a general smart population.

**TheBrazenSiren**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉


Moved from BurlCo to W. Knox in ‘17.
It is a huge culture shock at first. Anything food related is a bit of a culture shock. Grocery stores are fewer and father between than what you will be used to.
Bread (and anything bread related) is not the same.
Most major restaurants are conglomerate/chains. You won’t find a diner or a Lamberti’s. Don’t take Wawa for granted. LOL. Are there benefits? Sure. One of the best moves we made in regard to HS education. HV hs was the best thing we could have done for your youngest and our adult kids who came with us have found exemplary (and creative) employment opportunities. Our rent, however has doubled since we moved here, mostly in the last two years. The housing market is now what we were seeing in S Jersey when we moved and food prices are about the same as when I was in Mercer county last fall. The cost of living gap has seriously closed since we came here. Electric heat cooking is the norm here as opposed to the gas most of us mid-Atlantic peeps are used to. The way winter weather is handled by the populous and the administration is not what you would be accustomed to.
Instead of taking a long weekend at the shore, you go to the mountains or lake.

If it weren’t for the school issue, we would have aimed for more rural/county but really wanted to get our youngest into a STEM school.

**nutscrape_navigator**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

We moved here over 5 years ago and have been super happy with our decision. If you like college sports and general outdoors-y stuff you will never run out of things to do. Our lakes are amazing, proximity to the Smoky Mountains rules, there’s a great restaurant and brewery scene, and the general growth of the area is super cool as it feels like everything is on the upswing.

Get on the list now to get [Vols season tickets](https://utsports.com/sports/2023/5/18/season-ticket-info-request.aspx). It took us years to get the call. 

Knoxville, Tennessee

Streaking Capital

Looklyloo Score: 84

Reviews

What's it like to live in Knoxville?