Moving to Knoxville TN in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

This is a complete guide for Moving to Knoxville, TN.
Get all the information you need to know about moving to Knoxville, TN.

Good to know that you are serious about moving to Knoxville, Tennessee. And how much do you know about the state?

Knowing Knoxville in and out before you reach there will help you make the right decisions. And there is nothing better than our Knoxville moving guide. We’ve thoroughly researched the state and have got all relevant information intact.

Read our guide on Knoxville, the low-cost, progressive, and friendly Southern city situated between two mountain ranges.

Let’s jump to explore Knoxville.

facts of Knoxville

Quick facts to know before you move to Knoxville

  • Knoxville was settled in 1791 and established in 1792
  • Knoxville was named after Henry Knox, President Washington's War Secretary
  • Knoxville is the largest city in the United States with a silent first letter
  • Knoxville is the second-largest metropolitan area that starts with a “K” (after Kansas City) and the second-largest metro area with an “X” in its name (second to Phoenix)
  • James White was the first known settler of Knoxville
  • Founded in 1921 as WNAV, WNOX once claimed to be the sixth oldest radio station in America
  • Installed in early 1982 for the World’s Fair, the Sunsphere’s glass panes are infused with actual gold dust
  • Though the city is situated in the Tennessee Valley, its elevation of 886 feet is higher than that of Chattanooga (676 feet), Nashville (567), and Memphis (337)
  • The average elevation of Knoxville varies by 1,000 feet from west to east
  • Knox County hosts six farmers’ markets, with a market every day of the week except Sunday and Monday

Top 10 things to know before moving to Knoxville

  • The living cost in Knoxville is 17% lower than the US average
  • The job market is steady here
  • Free transport is available around Downtown Knoxville and the University of Tennessee campus from Monday to Saturday
  • Within 30 days of moving to Tennessee permanently, you must register your vehicle
  • The sports culture is prominent in Knoxville, especially football
  • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just an hour's drive away
  • The city was the center of the American Revolution
  • Knoxville is highly pet friendly
  • Many new breweries are coming up in the city
  • Knoxville is rich in history and culture

Why are people moving to Knoxville, TN?

You may wonder why Knoxville tops the list of places where there is a huge influx of population. Despite the increasing housing cost, people are flocking to Knoxville because of its proximity to the national park and easy access to other parts of the country. In addition, the city’s job opportunities are booming and even the demographic breakup is highly diverse. And you may be even surprised to know that despite the skyrocketing housing costs, Knoxville has one of the lowest realty prices in the US

Why was Knoxville called the Scruffy City?

It was the Wall Street Journal that called Knoxville ‘Scruffy Little City’ in 1980 about its bid to host the World's Fair. Following this, Knoxville planted thousands of trees and plants and has become one of the greenest cities in Tennessee. Sooner, the title faded off and no more it is addressed by the name

What is it like living in Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville has a steady job market where professionals find it easy to get jobs with attractive paychecks. Despite being highly urbanized, the residents have a conservative approach toward life and the demographics are highly diverse. Knoxville also has no shortage of entertainment options. This makes your living easy, fun-filled, and more comfortable than most of the neighboring cities in Tennessee

What salary do you need to live in Knoxville?

As the job market is strong and diversified in Knoxville, there’s no shortage of jobs here and you may get a good salary for most jobs. And if you’re still concerned about what you should take home to have a decent living, a good salary in Knoxville is anything over $39,000. When you earn $39 k or more, you’ll be getting more than what 50% of the residents earn. A good hourly wage in Knoxville is $18.75 per hour. That works out to a good weekly wage of $750 per week and a good monthly wage of $3,250 per month

What's the Population of Knoxville, TN?

About 190,740 people reside in Knoxville and the density is 1,932.13/sq mi. The population of the Knoxville metro area is 868,546, which makes it the 64th most populous in the US.

To know more, here is a quick breakdown of the Knoxville population.

  • Knoxville’s total population is 190,740
  • The population is made up of 47.9% males and 52.1% females
  • The median age in Knoxville is 33.8
  • The city population is made up of 71.5% White, 17.32% Black or African American, 2.1% Asian, and 2.8% from two or more races
  • About 5.6% of the population is of Hispanic ethnicity
  • The median household size in Knoxville is 2.21 persons
  • About 37.4% of the residents are married couples living together
  • On average, 22.6% of the residents are single and have children

How fast can you commute to Knoxville, TN?

One of the benefits of relocating to Knoxville is that you spend more time on the road than most US cities. The average one-way commute here is 19.7 minutes, which is much lower than the US average of 26.4 minutes.

If you are keen to know how the city residents reach the office regularly, here are the latest stats.

  • About 79.9% drive their car alone
  • About 9.4% carpool with others
  • About 3.1% work from home
  • Approximately 1.6% take mass transit

Tip: While moving the home, safety of your belongings is the priority and you need a trustworthy mover at your side. Know the top-rated moving companies in Knoxville, TN.

What is the weather like in Knoxville, TN?

The weather is a major factor in deciding the livability. And Knoxville promises a humid subtropical climate. While summers are hot and humid here, winters are generally much cooler and less stable, with occasional small amounts of snow.

We’ve got a few climate facts about Knoxville.

  • The city receives about 50 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.
  • Knoxville averages 6 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year
  • On average, the city gets about 204 sunny days per year against the US average of 205 sunny days
  • The city receives some kind of precipitation, on average, 127 days per year in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail
moving to Knoxville

Top reasons to move to Knoxville, VA

If you have ever wondered why a huge population moves to Knoxville annually, here are the reasons

  • Affordable living
  • Good schools and colleges
  • A lot of outdoor activities
  • Minimal traffic congestion
  • Active sports culture
  • Economically stable
Knoxville pros and cons

Pros & Cons of moving to Knoxville

Just like any city, Knoxville has got both positives and negatives.

We are listing out the pros and cons of living in Knoxville and analyzing which you make the final call.

Pros of living in Knoxville Cons of living in Knoxville
Low cost of livingHigh crime rate
Quality educationLack of public transportation
Low trafficAir pollution
Booming jobsHigh level of allergies
Serene beautyHot and humid summers
A lot of water sports
A lot of golfing opportunities
Vibrant sports culture
place to live Knoxville

Best neighborhoods in Knoxville

You may have concerns about where to stay after reaching Knoxville. And realizing this, we’ve researched and listed out the10 best neighborhoods to hunt for a home in Knoxville.

Here are the 10 best neighborhoods in Knoxville.

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value
1.Colonial Village4,814$121,779
2.Lonsdale13,278$91,135
3.Inskip20,491$119,126
4.Marble City4,216$255,731
5.Western Heights2,801$61,111
6.Mechanicsville3,536$51,011
7.Norwood29,798$103,606
8.Fountain City26,120$140,310
9.Five Points2,647$307,891
10.Parkridge4,131$279,807

Tip:When you’ve got a home to move in Knoxville, TN, getting the best moving quote will be your goal. Request moving company quotes to save on moving cost.

cost of living in Knoxville

Cost of living in Knoxville

Knoxville is one of the cheapest cities in the US to live with a cost of living 17% lower than the national average.

Everything including health, housing, transport, and groceries are cheaper than both Tennessee average and national average.

To get a clear picture of Knoxville cost of living, we’ve got a simple breakdown of the key elements that determines the cost of living.

Living Expense Knoxville Tennessee National Average
Overall86.587.6100
Grocery97.295.2100
Health95.7101.9100
Housing7571.2100
Median Home Cost$257,300$231,600$291,700
Utilities95.696.7100
Transportation81.890.2100
Miscellaneous89.795100

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How is the housing market of Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville housing costs are a little costlier than the Tennessee average but much lower than the US average. And about 51% of the residents own a house in Knoxville while about 74% of the people are staying in the same home for more than a year. The city has more than 91,155 houses and finding one for rent won’t be a big task.

To give you an idea about the house market in Knoxville, we’ve collated a few housing facts of the city.

  • Knoxville’s median home cost is $257,300
  • The median age of Knoxville real estate is 45 years old
  • The city’s home appreciation in the last 10 years has been66.6%
  • Renters make up 47.2.0% of the Knoxville population
  • About 3.2% of houses and apartments in Knoxville are available to rent

Average rental prices in Knoxville, TN

You may be curious to know how much it would cost to rent a home in Knoxville. This may be based on the home size, neighborhood, amenities, and many other factors. However, we’ve collated a few facts that will give you a basic idea in advance.

  • Knoxville’s average rent for a studio apartment is $665
  • Knoxville’s average rent for 1-bedroom home or apartment is $742
  • Knoxville’s average rent for a 2-bedroom home or apartment is $909
  • Knoxville’s average rent for a 3-bedroom home or apartment is $1,194
  • Knoxville’s average rent for a 4-bedroom home or apartment is $1,403
jobs in Warwick

How is the job market in Knoxville, TN?

If a job is the driving force behind your moving to Knoxville, you are on the right track. The economy is booming here and the job growth is steady.

You can be sure about finding the right job in a short time.

To help you know more about the jobs in Knoxville, here are a few job stats.

  • Knoxville records a positive job growth
  • Jobs have increased by 0.9% over the past year
  • The average salary in Knoxville is $33,494
  • The unemployment rate in Knoxville is 4.7%, much lower than the national average of 6.0%

Let’s take look at the simple breakdown of Knoxville’s job market

Employment Information Knoxville, Tennessee United States
The income per Cap$24,185$31,177
Household Income$36,331$57,652
Unemployment Rate4.76.0%
Recent Job Growth-4,24%-6.18%
Future Job Growth37.54%33.51%

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Fastest growing jobs in Knoxville, TN

When you have an idea about the fastest-growing jobs in Knoxville, things will be easier for you. It helps in job hunting as you know which jobs you can apply for.

The following are the top ten fastest-growing jobs in the city.

Rank Job Title Average Salary Growth
1Physical Therapist Assistant$56,870155.8%
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$60,710152.0%
3Tax Preparer$50,110148.5%
4Physical therapy aide$23,890148.35%
5Physical therapist$87,530147.2%
6Home health aide$20,660146.7%
7Interpreter And Translator$41,350145.7%
8Physician Assistant$85,520144.4%
9Nurse Practitioner$93,790140.7%
10Marketing Internship$61,290140.3%

Best companies to work for if you’re moving to Knoxville, TN?

How good would it be to know the best employers in Knoxville? You may apply for jobs at those companies even before you pack the bags and get a job as you land in Knoxville. To make it easier, we’ve collated the names of the 10 best companies in Knoxville.

  • Regal Cinemas Corp
  • Pilot Flying J
  • TeamHealth
  • First Utility District of Knox County
  • CovenantHealth
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • University of Tennessee
  • HGTV
  • Cellular Sales
  • Scripps Networks Interactive

Top career options in Knoxville

As you are on the last leg of your move, knowing the top career options in Knoxville will help you. This works especially when the job is the main factor for your relocation.

Here is a list of the careers that give you a fat paycheck.

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry Level Salary
1Physicians and surgeons, all other$238,770$133,270
2Nurse anesthetists$173,300$112,270
3Dentists, general$163,890$60,570
4Chief executives$161,370$ 18,870
5Family and general practitioners$161,170$120,780
6Lawyers$135,710$62,700
7Nuclear engineers$132,150$81,230
8Pharmacists$130,600$90,460
9Architectural and engineering managers$127,860$70,240
10Optometrists$126,100$57,190

What's the average salary & income in Knoxville, TN?

As you plan to move to Knoxville, you would be curious to know what a company pays its employees. Normally, the wages would be based on the designation, company profile, and many other factors. However, there would be a basic slab for every employee and to help you, we’ve got them.

  • Knoxville’s average annual pay for average jobs is $44,328 a year
  • Knoxville’s average hourly pay for average jobs is $21.31 an hour
  • Knoxville’s average weekly pay for average jobs is $852 per week
  • Knoxville’s average monthly pay for average jobs is $3,694 per month
  • Knoxville’s top earners (90th percentile) make $116,940 annually

Major industries in Knoxville

Knoxville is a business center with many big companies. And this makes it easier when you are moving here for job purposes. So why not take a look at the major industries in Knoxville?

Here is a list of major industries in Knoxville

  • Trade
  • Transportation
  • Retail
  • Tourism & hospitality
  • Financial services
taxes in rhode island

What are taxes like in Tennessee?

When you’ve got an idea about the state taxes in Knoxville, it becomes easier to calculate your take-home salary.

And we’ve got the tax cuts in Tennessee in detail

  • The sales tax rate for Tennessee is 9.3%. The US average is 7.3%
  • The Income Tax Rate for Tennessee is 0.0%. The US average is 4.6%.
  • The average property tax rate in Tennessee is 0.64%
  • The average income of a Tennessee resident is $23,177 a year. The US average is $28,555 a year
  • Tennessee collects no income tax

Knoxville to do

What are the best things to do in Knoxville, Tennessee?

Knoxville is situated amidst mountains and due to this; the city is blessed with wide green outdoors. Once you are here, you’ll feel no shortage of fun.

Here’s a list of the top 10 things to do in Knoxville

  • Explore World’s Fair Park
  • Visit Peter Kern Library Speakeasy
  • Appreciate the artworks at the Knoxville Museum of Art
  • Find the Tennessee Theatre
  • Wander through Market Square
  • See Knoxville from the Sunshphere Tower
  • Tour Bleak House
  • Stroll along the downtown mural walk
  • Stay at The Tennessean
  • Chillout at Mead’s Quarry Lake
  • Gorge at Stock and Barrel

How safe is Knoxville, Tennessee?

Despite the booming economy, serene nature, vast outdoor fun, affordable living, and amazing neighborhoods, there is one thing that Knoxville scores very poorly – safety. The crime rate in the city is one of the highest in the country. We’ve got the key stats about the city’s crime rates and based on this, you need to take the final call on whether Knoxville is for you.

  • The rate of crime in Knoxville is 8.04 per 1,000 residents during a standard year
  • The violent crime rate in Knoxville is 44.9. The U.S. average is 22.7
  • The property crime rate in Knoxville is 81.5. The U.S. average is 35.4
  • Knoxville is safer than just 4% of US cities
  • Residents have a 1 in 124 chance of being the victim of a violent crime
  • Residents have a 1 in 23 chance of being the victim of a property crime

Tip:Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

schools in Knoxville

What are the top schools in Knoxville, TN?

The quality of education is a major factor that prompts you to move to a new city. This becomes vital when you are moving with the family.

Fortunately, Knoxville has got many good institutions and we’ve listed the best ones for you.

Here’s a list of the best education institutions in Knoxville.

Top 5 Public Elementary Schools in Knoxville, TN

  • Rocky Hill Elementary
    Public, K-5 | 726 students

  • Sequoyah Elementary School
    Public, K-5 | 445 students

  • Bearden Elementary school
    Public, K-5 | 317 students

  • Shannondale Elementary School
    Public, K-5 | 379 students

  • Farragut Intermediate School
    Public, K-5 | 1,052 students

Top 5 Public Middle Schools in Knoxville, TN

  • Farragut Middle School
    Public, 6-8 | 1,375 students

  • Hardin Valley Middle School
    Public, 6-8 | 984 students

  • West Valley Middle School
    Public, 6-8 | 1,178 students

  • Bearden Middle School
    Public, 6-8 | 1,277 students

  • Gresham Middle School
    Public, 6-8 | 821 students

Top 4 Public High Schools in Knoxville, TN

  • Farragut High School
    Public, 9-12 | 1,795 students

  • L&N Stem Academy
    Public, 9-12 | 583 students

  • West High School
    Public, 9-12 | 1,487 students

  • Hardin Valley Academy
    Public, 9-12 | 2,072 students

Top colleges and universities in Knoxville, TN

  • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Maryville College

  • Johnson University

  • South College

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