One of the most desirable cities to live in Tennessee, Knoxville, has a lot going for it. We offer a low cost of living, for example, plus good schools, climate, and housing costs. Outdoor activities, nightlife and more make living in Knoxville, TN exciting and fun!
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If you’re moving to Knoxville and want to know everything, including the downsides, you’re in luck! Below we’ve collected to biggest pros and cons of living in Knoxville, TN, to help you! From diversity to jobs, crime, and more, read on to discover everything about living in Knoxville, TN!
MOVING TIP: If you're on your way, we recommend reserving a Knoxville, TN storage unit online. When your moving truck arrives, you'll be able to put your things directly into storage. The benefit? Being able to search for a new Knoxville home and neighborhood at your own pace!
PRO: Living in Knoxville, TN is Affordable
With a cost-of-living index of 86/100, Knoxville is definitely an affordable city. In fact, none of the significant cost indexes here are over the national average, which is fantastic. The average family in Knoxville will save on groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare. Housing costs here are also exceptionally low, with a cost index of 75/100. In other words, living in Knoxville, TN, is affordable as well as beautiful. Below are all of the major cost indexes you can use to compare to other cities:
- Overall. 86/100
- Groceries. 97/100
- Healthcare. 96/100
- Housing. 75/100 (One of the best in the country.)
- Median Home Cost. $257,300.
- Utilities. 95/100
- Transportation. 82/100
- Miscellaneous. 90/100.
CON: Crime is a Problem in Knoxville, TN
While far from the worst city in America, Knoxville does have its crime and safety problems. Property theft is 50% higher than the national average. The good news is that Knoxville is hard at work changing these facts. The local police force is working with the community for change, and crime rates have been dropping.
PRO: Knoxville, TN has Great Public Schools
According to Niche, Knoxville’s public schools get a B+. Ask any student, and they’ll agree; that’s a good grade! There are 80 public schools serving Knoxville, and many are rated A+. That includes Farragut High School, the #7 Best Public High School in the entire state! Indeed, some of the best high schools in Tennessee are in Knoxville, a point on which we’re very proud. If you have children still in school, you can rest assured they’ll get an excellent education when living in Knoxville, TN. (Just ask the kids who go to L&N STEM Academy, the #13 Best in Tennessee!)
CON: Public Transportation is Lacking
There’s no sugarcoating the fact that Knoxville needs better public transportation. Unfortunately, the city has very few sidewalks and is less walkable than many others of the same size. Yes, you can get around by bicycle, but there aren’t a lot of bike lanes either. That means you’ll need a car when you live here.
PRO: The Weather in Knoxville is Mild Most of the Year
Knoxville gets a 7.3/10 rating for comfort, which is just below the national average. Living in Knoxville, TN means there are quite a few comfortable days between 70 and 80F, mainly in spring and fall. It does snow here but so occasionally that it’s almost not worth mentioning. Rain, however, does fall rather frequently. Most months see about ten days of rainfall, which keeps the place clean and green.
CON: Summers in Knoxville Are Sweltering
If you’re moving from further north, one of the first things you’ll notice about Knoxville is that it’s hot! Plus, if you arrive during summer, it’s very hot. So hot that you might not want to go outside during the middle of the day. Another con, at least for some, is that Knoxville has almost no change of seasons. Unlike, for example, New England, the leaves here don’t change very much (chiefly because most of them are evergreens). Still, having mild weather all year is more important than seeing a seasonal change for many people.
PRO: Knoxville, TN Get High Marks All-Around
Sure, Knoxville has a few drawbacks, as we’ve seen. However, if you look at our ratings on Niche, you’ll find we generally get high marks all around. We’ve already mentioned our great public schools and low cost of living. Some of the other excellent grades that we receive in Knoxville include:
- Nightlife. A
- Diversity. A-
- Outdoor activities. A-
- Commuting time. A-
- Good for Families. B+
- Health and Fitness. B-
Knoxville, TN is an Attractive U.S. City
There’s no denying it; Knoxville, TN, is a great American city with many excellent reasons to live and work here. As we’ve seen, our fine city gets top grades for almost everything, from schools to weather and more. If you’re moving to Knoxville, we think you’ll be delighted and content here. The people and weather are fantastic, and the nightlife here is, as the kids say, off the hook!
At iStorage, we’re the local self storage provider in Knoxville, TN, with clean, safe, and affordable Knoxville storage units. Many new arrivals to our city reserve a storage unit online before they arrive. That way, when they do, they can search for a new home knowing their stuff is in good hands. If you have questions about how to do that, you can chat with us online anytime. Or, even better, visit our local iStorage location in Knoxville. The friendly on-site manager can help you rent a Knoxville, TN storage unit that best fits your needs.
Until then, we wish you the very best of luck with your move to our city. We’re confident that, once you arrive and get settled in, you’ll love Knoxville as much as we do!
