Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Oakland
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $700k less ($184,200 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $806/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,849)
62% less violent crime than Oakland
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $46,080/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,080 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 88°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Knoxville
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
62% lower
740.3 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$700k less
$184,200 vs $883,800
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$46,080
$94,389 vs $48,309/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 13 and Oakland wins 9. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $883,800 median home), income ($48,309 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Oakland, CA are about 2,105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.