Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Nashville-Davidson leads 12 of 21 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($184,200 vs $351,400)
34% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $349/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,392)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $23,019/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
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $23,019 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
34% lower
740.3 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$167k less
$184,200 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$23,019
$71,328 vs $48,309/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Nashville-Davidson leads 12 of 21 categories. Knoxville wins 9 and Nashville-Davidson wins 12. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $351,400 median home), income ($48,309 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.