Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 10 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $27,067 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Knoxville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($184,200 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $584/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,627)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $27,067/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
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$27,067
$75,376 vs $48,309/yr
Knoxville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$233k less
$184,200 vs $417,600
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 55.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 10 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 9 and Knoxville wins 10. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $184,200 median home), income ($75,376 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Knoxville, TN are about 715 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.