Knoxville, Tennessee (2024) · WeaponizingArchitecture / CC BY 4.0Four-market-square-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Fort Sanders, Knoxville, TN · w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0Ayres Hall, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Fort Sanders, Knoxville, TN - 52496782562 · w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0
Knoxville is a mid-sized city of 191,857 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $48,309
and a 4.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Knoxville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Knoxville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Knoxville city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.8
Knoxville's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Knoxville costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Knoxville, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$184,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,043
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,309
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Knoxville's violent crime rate is 740.3 per 100,000 residents
— 95% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
740.3 /100k
Property Crime
2721.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Knoxville is served primarily by Knox County.
Metric
Knoxville, TN
National Avg
School District
Knox County
—
Elementary Schools
54
—
Middle Schools
17
—
High Schools
19
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
33.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Knoxville sees average highs of 47.9°F in January
and 88.3°F in July,
with 55.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.6 inches of snow per year.
Knoxville's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Knoxville roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $184,200 and median rent is $1,043/month.
Knoxville's violent crime rate is 740.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2721.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Knoxville are operated by Knox County.
The district has 54 elementary, 17 middle, and 19 high schools.
33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Knoxville, TN has a population of 191,857, a median household income of $48,309, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Knoxville averages 47.9°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.8 inches
with about 4.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Knoxville, TN is covered by 15 ZIP codes: 37920, 37921, 37919, 37914, 37917, 37912, 37918, 37909, 37924, 37922, 37923, 37915, 37916, 37902, 37929.
The population of Knoxville, Tennessee is 191,857 with a median age of 33.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Knoxville: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $184,200, median household income $48,309, crime index 169 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Knoxville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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