As the next-door neighbor to the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville, TN, has much to offer in terms of outdoor spaces and beautiful sceneries. If you’re looking at Knoxville real estate and wondering what to expect when moving here, keep reading our Knoxville, TN, Relocation Guide to learn all about this city.
Basic Facts About Knoxville, TN
Where is Knoxville, TN, Located?
Knoxville is located in eastern Tennessee, next to the Great Smoky Mountains, and along the Tennessee River. Knoxville is also about 180 miles from Nashville, TN, and 112 miles from Chattanooga, TN.
What is the Population of Knoxville, Tennessee?
The city of Knoxville has a population of about 190K, but the entire Knoxville Metro Area has around 771K people.
What is the Weather Like in Knoxville, Tennessee?
Knoxville, TN, is located in a humid subtropical climate and experiences all four seasons. Summers are typically humid and hot, with the average high temperature reaching 88.4°F in July. Winters can be unstable and are colder, with the average low temperature in Knoxville dipping to 30°F in January. Knoxville receives about 48 inches of rainfall and 4.6 inches of snowfall each year.
What is the Character of Knoxville, TN, Like?
If you’re moving to Knoxville to further your education, you’ll be happy to know it’s a college town, making it a relatively young city. The median age of its residents is 32.9 years old. Knoxville is also a friendly city that exudes Southern hospitality, as it welcomes over 14 million visitors to the Smoky Mountain National Park each year. In fact, the Smoky Mountain National Park is the United States’ most-visited national park.
Is Knoxville a Dog-Friendly City?
Knoxville is a dog-friendly city. If you relocate here and have a dog, you’ll be able to walk your dog almost anywhere. Many local shops and restaurants will welcome your furry friend with treats and drinking water as well. There are also seven dog parks throughout the city.
Homes For Sale in Knoxville, TN
Knoxville Real Estate Market
It’s a seller’s market in Knoxville, with homes lasting on the market about 37 days until they go under contract. The median price of homes for sale in Knoxville is about $370K, below the national average. Single-family homes range from $50K for a fixer-upper to nearly $5.4M for an estate home. Condos for sale in Knoxville start around $140K and go up to $730K. Knoxville townhomes for sale range from just over $200K to $1.5M.
Knoxville’s housing stock is primarily made up of one and two-story single-family homes, with a few condos and townhomes mixed in, all with either a brick or siding exterior. Roughly 70% of the homes in Knoxville have two to three bedrooms. The bulk of Knoxville homes were constructed from the ‘40s to the ‘70s, though you will find older and new construction homes in Knoxville.
Areas of Knoxville, Tennessee
Before moving to Knoxville, you’ll want to know that it is split up into four areas.
North Knoxville
If you’re relocating to Knoxville and want an old historic home, check out North Knoxville. This area is full of charm, walkable to small shops and restaurants, and home to a couple of neat neighborhoods.
- Fourth and Gill – Known for its Victorian Homes and streetscapes, many of the homes and buildings are on the National Register for Historic Places.
- Fountain City – Some may think this is a city or town all of its own, but it’s technically still Knoxville. Fountain City is a tight-knit community full of historic charm.
South Knoxville
If you’re looking for land or prefer a more rural setting when you relocate to Knoxville, check out South Knoxville. South Knoxville is located south of the Tennessee River, breaking it up from the rest of the city. Because of this, it’s only connection to the rest of Knoxville is by bridge, which has naturally left this area of the city underdeveloped compared to the other sides. Though South Knoxville is sparsely-populated, it still boasts its own attractions like the Ijams Nature Center, Fort Dickerson Quarry, and tons of amazing bike trails.
East Knoxville
If you’re looking to relocate to Knoxville and want a fixer-upper, check out East Knoxville. Staying close to the Knoxville Downtown setting, East Knoxville is an up-and-coming part of the city that has seen a lot of revitalization in recent years. East Knoxville is also home to several museums and Chilhowee Park, where several fairs and events, like the Vintage Market Days, are held.
West Knoxville
Families looking to relocate to Knoxville, may want to look into West Knoxville. This area makes up the majority of the Knoxville area and is home to some of the most esteemed neighborhoods and the largest shopping areas in the city, like West Town Mall and Turkey Creek. It’s also where you’ll find great schools. A few of the best neighborhoods in West Knoxville include:
- Bearden – Higher-end homes and great schools like Bearden Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.
- Sequoyah Hills – Spectacular homes with a lot of trails throughout the neighborhood.
- West Hills / Cedar Bluff – It also has great schools, but with more affordable housing.
Cost of Living in Knoxville, TN
Knoxville’s overall cost of living is slightly lower than the Tennessee average by 2.1%, which is 14.5% lower than the national average. If you relocate to Knoxville, you’ll likely pay a little more for groceries and housing, but less for other things like healthcare, utilities, and transportation. The median household income in Knoxville is $59,250.
Knoxville Taxes
Property taxes in Knoxville are about half of the United State’s average, with most homeowners paying about $1,500 a year, whereas the national average is about $2,800.
Education in Knoxville, TN
Schools in Knoxville
The Knox County Schools system serves Knoxville. There are over 56K students enrolled across 89 schools. This includes a STEM academy and five magnet schools. There are also over 50 parochial and private schools across Knox County.
Colleges and Universities in Knoxville, Tennessee
If you or your children want to further their education after relocating to Knoxville, there are several colleges and universities within the city, making it easy to commute to and from school. Major Knoxville colleges and universities include:
- University of Tennessee – The main campus with over 27K students enrolled.
- Pellissippi State Community College – A 2-year school offering 2-year degrees and certificate programs.
- Johnson University – A Bible college through the Church of Christ.
- South College – It offers programs in business, criminal justice, legal fields, and health care.
- Knoxville College – A historically black college focused on Science in Liberal Studies and Arts degrees.
Jobs in Knoxville, TN
If you’re relocating to Knoxville for work, Knoxville has a diversified job market. The top industries fueling the Knoxville economy are real estate, finance, manufacturing, retail, technology, and research. Some of Knoxville’s biggest privately-held companies include:
- Pilot Flying J – Truck stop chain
- T. H. Hackney Company – Wholesale grocery distribution
- Tombras Group – Advertising Agency
- Bush Brothers and Company – Canned beans
- Sea Ray Boats – Recreational motor boats manufacturer
- Thermocopy – Technology company
- Petro’s Chili & Chips – Fast Food
- EdFinancial Services – Student loan lender
- AC Entertainment – Music promotion company
- Regal Cinemas – Movie theater chain
- Discovery, Inc. – Television conglomerate
- TeamHealth – Healthcare staffing firm
Medical Access in Knoxville, TN
When relocating to Knoxville, you’ll have convenient access to medical care with Knox County’s hospital system spanning over seven general hospitals and one children’s hospital. Some of Knoxville’s biggest hospitals include:
- University of Tennessee Medical Center
- Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
- Parkwest Medical Center
- Physicians Regional
Knoxville Entertainment and Recreation
Arts and Culture Events in Knoxville, Tennessee
If you’re considering moving to Knoxville, you’ll notice it pales in size compared to Nashville, but there’s no shortage of things to do here. In fact, the historical Chilhowee Park, which is in Knoxville, is home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, Vintage Market Days, and many more events throughout the year. Some of the other attractions in the area include:
- Muse Knoxville – A children’s museum.
- Ijams Nature Center – An urban park surrounding wetlands and rock formations with 10 miles of trails.
- Fort Dickerson Quarry – An old quarry filled with turquoise water that overlooks Fort Dickerson Park. You can also tour an old civil war fort.
Shopping and Dining in Knoxville, Tennessee
While there are pockets of shops and restaurants all over Knoxville, the majority of the shopping happens in West Knoxville. Particularly at West Town Mall (an indoor shopping center) and Turkey Creek, an outdoor one-stop-shopping center filled with name brand stores, restaurants, and other businesses. Also, along Broadway in North Knoxville is a concentration of micro-breweries that have become a popular hang out spot.
Parks in Knoxville, Tennessee
With Knoxville’s location next to the Great Smoky Mountains, there’s no shortage of greenspaces. There are several parks throughout the city, each with its own things to do. Some of the most popular parks in Knoxville include:
- Concord Park – Has a small golf course, asphalt skate park, and sand volleyball courts.
- Lakeshore Park – Showcases views of the lake and mountains and has a playground, trails, ball fields, and more.
- Victor Ashe Park – A 120-acre park with a playground, multi-purpose fields, a full-size golf course, and more.
Knoxville Sports Teams
Residents of Knoxville love their sports. Easily the most popular and well-loved team(s) to cheer on is the Volunteers from the University of Tennessee. In fact the Volunteers football team’s home stadium is at the Neyland Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the world! Thanks to the UT women’s basketball team and Pat Summitt, Knoxville is also home to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
There are also a couple professional sports teams located in Knoxville too.
- Double-A Baseball – Tennessee Smokies (affiliate of the Chicago Cubs)
- Hockey – Knoxville Ice Bears
Transportation in Knoxville, TN
Knoxville is a car-centric city with several roadways making it convenient to travel around the city:
- I-75: Enters from the northwest side of Knoxville
- I-40: Travels east and west.
- I-640: Creates a loop around the west and north sides of the city.
There are also three main roads, connected by bridges, that link Knoxville to South Knoxville: James White Pkwy, Henley St. / Route 441, and Alcoa Hwy / Route 129.
The Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is a public transportation system that operates throughout the Knoxville metropolitan area. KAT has a fleet of over 80 buses as well as paratransit vehicles and road trolleys.
Knoxville Relocation Guide: Conclusion
We hope you found this Knoxville relocation guide informative and helpful in teaching you about the city. Whenever you’re ready, be sure to contact a local real estate agent and don’t hesitate to ask questions before hiring an agent.
