Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $521k less ($184,200 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $774/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,817)
20% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $53,413/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $53,413 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
20% lower
740.3 vs 925.9 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$521k less
$184,200 vs $705,000
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$53,413
$101,722 vs $48,309/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 12 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 12 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $705,000 median home), income ($48,309 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Washington, DC are about 431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.