Surrounded by the beautiful Smokey Mountains, Knoxville offers both small-town charm and big-city excitement. Great weather, a diverse economy, and affordable housing help make Knoxville a great place to live.
If you are a sports fan, you will love it here. And the shopping is good too.
Above all, the natural beauty of Knoxville is hard to beat. If you are thinking of moving to Knoxville, it’s important to know as much as you can before making the move. Here’s your ultimate guide to living in Knoxville, TN.
Living in Knoxville
Knoxville is a growing city and an affordable place to live. The cost of living is below the national average.
Home prices, rent, and transportation and utility costs are lower than in larger metro areas. Food and healthcare costs are also lower than in larger cities.
If you want luxury, we have that too. And you would be amazed at how beautiful the homes are in Knoxville. View here and take a look.
Knoxville’s Climate
Knoxville’s high elevation helps keep the heat down in the summer months. Unlike some southern cities, Knoxville residents get to enjoy four seasons.
It sits in a valley, so the town avoids extreme weather. People love the temperate climate.
Summers are balmy, and the winter temperatures are cool with light snow at times. People come from all over to see the beautiful fall foliage of the Smokey Mountains each year.
Jobs in Knoxville
Knoxville is one of the fastest growing cities in Tennessee. More and more people and businesses are coming to the city each year.
Knoxville has a diverse economy with lots of opportunities for employment. Knoxville is a growing city with many industries, including technology, manufacturing, and mining, and more.
Some major employers include the University of Tennessee, the city of Knoxville, St. Mary’s Health System, Walmart, Knoxville County Schools, and others.
Transportation in Knoxville
The best way to get around Knoxville is in your own vehicle, but there are other good options. Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) operates trolleys and buses available for a small fee and offers free rides for the elderly or disabled individuals.
There is a Greyhound bus station, and McGhee Tyson Airport offers options for connecting flights to international airports.
Knoxville is close to other large cities. Nashville is 180 miles west, and Atlanta is 200 miles south of Knoxville.
In fact, two-thirds of the US population lives within a day’s drive to Knoxville.
Areas of Knoxville
Knoxville is divided into 5 areas. These are North, South, East, and West Knoxville, and the downtown area.
Downtown Knoxville is the business district and has many historic buildings. A wide variety of restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries are in the area.
It’s an urban area where people work, play, and live. New businesses are opening up all the time.
The downtown parking garages are free for families on the weekends. This allows families to park and walk around and enjoy all the downtown area has to offer.
Old North Knoxville is full of eclectic architecture and one of Knoxville’s oldest communities. South Knoxville has a variety of parks and walking paths to enjoy.
Knoxville Outdoors
Knoxville has many options for outdoor fun. Whether you love hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or just about any other outdoor activity, you can do it in Knoxville.
There are miles of connecting greenways, and Ijams Nature Center is a must see. People love to go mountain biking in Knoxville, and it’s considered to be one of the most walkable cities in Tennessee.
Of course, nearby Smoky Mountain National Park is always a family favorite and a beautiful place for camping, hiking, or picnics.
The Tennessee River and seven surrounding lakes are perfect for boating, fishing, jet skiing, and water skiing.
No State Income Tax
If you are moving from a state with a high-income tax rate, you may experience a real boost in pay by moving to Tennessee. There’s no state income tax.
A thriving economy, good job opportunities, low cost of living, and no state income tax make Knoxville an attractive place to live.
University of Tennessee
If you are moving to Knoxville, TN, be prepared to see lots of orange shirts and hats. In 1889, UT chose orange as the school’s color.
Today, orange is everywhere in Knoxville. UT fans proudly display orange on their clothes, cars, flags, boats, and everything else.
Knoxville residents love the UT sports teams. Over 100,000 fans fill Neyland Stadium for the Volunteers home football games and sing “Rocky Top” as loud as they can.
Be sure to take a walk around the beautiful UT campus too.
The Arts in Knoxville
Sure, bluegrass and country music is huge in Knoxville, but the Knoxville Symphony is too. They are the oldest performing orchestra in the Southeast.
They perform at the Tennessee Theatre on a regular basis. If you love opera, the Knoxville Opera performs three shows each year at the same venue.
The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra performs 6 concerts throughout the year as well. No matter what kind of music you love, you will find it in Knoxville.
And, Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry are nearby too.
First Friday Rocks
You want to check out First Friday downtown on the first Friday of every month. It’s a family friendly atmosphere with live music, dancers and lots more.
There’s a diverse group of artists putting on a fabulous show indoors and out. You will see a little bit of everything, and you don’t want to miss it.
The kids love it, and so will you.
There’s so Much to Do in Knoxville, TN
One of the most exciting aspects of living in Knoxville is that you will never run out of things to do. It offers the amenities of a big city, but you are close to the peace and quiet of the mountains.
There are many food and art festivals each year. You can listen to live music any night of the week or enjoy a show or play.
The kids will love Zoo Knoxville. Be sure to visit the Sunsphere, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and take a boat ride on the Tennessee River.
Be sure to check out our website and helpful blogs too.
