Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 14 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Lubbock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
10% less violent crime than Lubbock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lubbock by $10,425/yr
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Households earn $10,425 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Violent Crime
10% lower
740.3 vs 821.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Income
$10,425
$58,734 vs $48,309/yr
Lubbock
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $58,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 14 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 8 and Lubbock 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 Knoxville to Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $181,600 median home), income ($48,309 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Lubbock, TX are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.