Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 16 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Raleigh
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($184,200 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,371)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $30,322/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
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $30,322 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Knoxville
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$163k less
$184,200 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$30,322
$78,631 vs $48,309/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
34% lower
488.8 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 16 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 6 and Raleigh wins 16. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $347,000 median home), income ($48,309 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Raleigh, NC are about 297 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.