Moving to Knoxville, Tennessee

Moving to a new city can be stressful. Even if you’re moving to a place as fun-filled and friendly as Knoxville, getting acquainted with a new city can be tough. Whether you’re sure about this move or not, our Bellhops city guide is exactly what you need (oh, and we’re movers in Knoxville, by the way).

Keep reading to get an insider’s scoop on life in Knoxville, from the cost of living and best neighborhoods to the job market and culture.

An Overview of Knoxville

Knoxville is now the third-largest city in Tennessee, after Nashville and Memphis. As one of the largest cities in the Appalachian region, Knoxville has preserved Appalachian culture. It’s the proud previous home of Daniel Boone and the current home to an array of interesting shops, sports enthusiasts, and some of the best Southern cooking.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are both within an hour and a half drive from the city. Residents also enjoy easy proximity to other nearby cities like Nashville, Atlanta, and Chattanooga. Inside the city, you’ll find affordable living, friendly neighbors, and great festivals to celebrate each year.

Knoxville Economics: The Cost of Living and the Job Market

What Is the Cost of Living in Knoxville?

Knoxville’s cost of living is a whopping 18 percent lower than the national average. While houses are a little more expensive here than the rest of Tennessee, they’re still 28 percent lower than the national average, with a median home cost of $173,300.

Other cost of living factors like utilities, health care, and groceries are also slightly below the national average. Transportation and rent prices are significantly cheaper, at about 85 percent of what it costs in the rest of the country.

The Knoxville Job Market

The unemployment rate in Knoxville was 6.7 percent in August of this year, compared to the national average, which was 13.5 percent. But Knoxville is actually struggling to find enough qualified workers to fill its open positions.

Currently, the city’s biggest employers include the U.S. Department of Energy and the Oakridge National Laboratory. Additionally, trade jobs, health services, education, and government jobs make up a large portion of Knoxville’s job market.

The Five Best Neighborhoods to Live in Knoxville

We’ve explored its streets, heard from locals, and found the five best neighborhoods Knoxville has to offer. The winners?

• Old City
• Fourth and Gill
• Forest Heights
• Oakwood
• Downtown

Check out our Knoxville neighborhood guide for more info on these top spots and insider’s tips so that you can get to know each neighborhood like a local.

What to Expect: People of Knoxville and Crime in the City

Knoxville’s Culture

For a large city, Knoxville emits a suburban feel. While there are plenty of amenities and energetic downtown, the city also offers a number of parks and beautiful family-friendly homes. Knoxville also boasts of above-average public schools. Many young professionals call the city home, and overall, residents tend to lean slightly conservative.

When interacting with a Knoxville local, you’ll notice that they are quite friendly. Strangers seem to genuinely enjoy making friends with other strangers. Chalk it up to southern hospitality if you want, but in our opinion, this city is especially welcoming.

Is Knoxville Dangerous?

Knoxville has gotten a bad rep for its crime rate. Almost all the cities in the country have higher crime rates than rural communities. Crime in Knoxville is higher than the national average but also higher than many other similar cities.

That said, crime rates vary drastically depending on which area of the city you’re in. If the city’s crime is a concern for you, consider one of Knoxville’s safest neighborhoods, such as Shandy Grove, Blue Grass, Garland, and Fox Fire.

Get Moving: How to Get Around and Stay Active in Knoxville

Walkability and Public Transportation in Knoxville

As a whole, Knoxville isn’t the most walkable city. Unless you’re living in the center city, you’ll be hard-pressed to get around without a car. That said, the areas around Downtown and the University of Tennessee are very walkable.

Fort Sanders, Old North Knoxville, and Fourth and Gill are a few other foot-friendly neighborhoods in the city. In these spots – whether you like to travel on-bus, on-bike, or on foot – you have a number of options.

• The Knoxville Area Transit, or KAT, operates buses that serve the city with 23 routes and over 1100 bus stops.
• The Knoxville Trolley offers free shuttle services to the University and Downtown areas.
• In center-city, you’ll find numerous protected bike lanes for commuting cyclists.
• Knoxville’s greenway system includes over 100 miles of paved bike-friendly paths.

Knoxville Sports and the Outdoors

The Tennessee Volunteers, part of the SEC, has a well-known and very dedicated following, which makes for amazing games and sports celebrations. Enjoy a sporting event like a local by hopping on a pontoon boat to watch the University of Tennessee football games. Knoxville is also home to the Knoxville Ice Bears professional hockey team, the Tennessee Riverhawks of the NIFL, and the Tennessee Smokies baseball team.

But spectator sports aren’t the only activities residents enjoy. Knoxville sits as an entry point to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, opening up opportunities for locals and visitors to access beautiful Appalachia and the surrounding outdoors.

• The beautiful Sequoyah Hills area has blooming floral trees that line its paved walking trails.
• Vol Navy fills up with paddleboards and kayakers in the summer.
• Big South Fork and Chimney Tops Trail in the Smoky Mountains have lookouts that display rolling mountains and weaving waterways.

The Urban Wilderness Corridor has over 1000 acres of green space and miles of trails, or you can bike the Cades Cove Loop. For a more urban pedal, bike along the downtown waterfront, through the UT Gardens, and along the edge of Tyson Park to reach the Bearden Beer Market for a refreshing brew.

Families love to camp out at the Lilly Pad Campground at Obed or in the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness. But one of our favorite activities in the city that’s great for all ages is a float down the Lower Pigeon River.