Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 22 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,247 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Knoxville
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($184,200 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 97°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $38,247/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
Austin
Median Income
$38,247
$86,556 vs $48,309/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
37% lower
466.9 vs 740.3 per 100k
Austin
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$277k less
$184,200 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 46.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 22 categories. Austin wins 15 and Knoxville wins 7. 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 Austin to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $184,200 median home), income ($86,556 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Knoxville, TN are about 888 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.