Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
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
Lynn
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($184,200 vs $442,800)
Rent averages $468/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,511)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lynn by $21,737/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
Lynn, MA
Pros
Households earn $21,737 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Knoxville
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$259k less
$184,200 vs $442,800
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Income
$21,737
$70,046 vs $48,309/yr
Lynn
Violent Crime
22% lower
574.6 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $70,046 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 47.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 14 and Lynn wins 8. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $442,800 median home), income ($48,309 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Lynn, MA are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.