Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Knoxville
Tennessee
14
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
61% less violent crime than Knoxville
Households earn $16,654 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Kenosha by $16,654/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
Kenosha
Median Income
$16,654
$64,963 vs $48,309/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
61% lower
285.7 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$10k less
$184,200 vs $194,400
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. Kenosha wins 8 and Knoxville wins 14. 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 Kenosha to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $184,200 median home), income ($64,963 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Knoxville, TN are about 503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.