Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Atlanta
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $29,346 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($184,200 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $469/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,512)
12% less violent crime than Atlanta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $29,346/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$29,346
$77,655 vs $48,309/yr
Knoxville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
12% lower
740.3 vs 840.6 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$211k less
$184,200 vs $395,600
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Atlanta wins 11 and Knoxville wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $184,200 median home), income ($77,655 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Knoxville, TN are about 155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.