Cookeville

Gorges, beautiful waterfalls, sparkling lakes, golf and endless hiking trails attract outdoor enthusiasts seeking to relocate to the best small towns in Eastern Tennessee. Cool summers and mild winters in the Highlands of Tennessee provide an ideal climate to spend time outdoors year round and find Tennessee retirement communities. Rand McNally ranked Cookeville as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Retire in America. Historical sites and traditional country stores like the J.C. Kemmer & Sons General Store will take you back in time, a glimpse of when the British colonists settled on the Cumberland Plateau and traded commodities. No matter what lifestyle you seek; golf, boating, fishing, antique collection or be inspired by the arts, you will find the lifestyles you are looking for in the Cookeville and Crossville area. Ten championship golf courses are located within 35 miles of Cookeville and Crossville is proud to claim the name Golf Capital of Tennessee. 

While some folks feel Cookeville and Crossville are in the middle of no where, yet both places are actually in the middle of everything. About 80 miles east of Music City and 100 miles west of the Most Dog Friendly City, Interstate 40 is the gateway to both metropolitan cities. Virgin Falls, Cummin Falls, Burgess Falls and Fall Creek Falls State Park surround the Highlands of Tennessee. Center Hill Lake is an 18,200 acre lake closest to Cookeville, popular for fishing, boating and hiking. Let us know if you'd like to receive Cookeville Relocation Information if you plan on relocating to Tennessee. Here's more information about the area:

• COOKEVILLE: The larger of the two cities, Cookeville has big city amenities while retaining its Southern charm as a best college town. Cookeville is home to Tennessee Tech University (TTU). The college continues to expand art programs and cultural opportunities throughout the city. The Appalachian Center for Craft has become a magnet for artists. Thespians are drawn the newly renovated Cookeville Performing Arts Center and Cookeville has its own world class orchestra, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at the Bryan Fine Arts Building. If the arts and culture are important to you, you will find plenty of it in Cookeville TN.

• CROSSVILLE: As the Golf Capital of Tennessee, Bear Trace marked the first Jack Nicklaus signature designed course at Cumberland Mountain State Park. Crossville is known as a popular vacation and retirement area. The Tennessee Senior Olympics takes place in Crossville in addition to the Crossville Men's 70+ Softball Team. This smaller city offers 10 championship golf courses, shopping conveniences, live entertainment and historical museums. 

If you’re searching for the best golf communities, here are reasons to consider Cookeville Tennessee:

ARTS AND CULTURE

Art lovers will treasure the craft workshops and art galleries at the Appalachian Center for Craft overlooking Center Hill Lake, a beautiful Tennessee lake. Each year, the center hosts 25 art exhibits from regional, national and international artists. In the fall at Cookeville’s West Side district, during the Art Prowl and Off the Beaten Path studio tours, art lovers can explore artists works in downtown Cookeville. The Cookeville Performing Arts Theater is a 456 seat theater hosting contemporary plays and theater productions. In Crossville, The Palace Theatre built in the 1930's hosts outstanding musical performances year round such as the Big South Opry. Crossville’s Cumberland County Playhouse hosts 145,000 spectators to see comedies, drama and musical concerts. 

CLIMATE

At an elevation ranging from 1,100 to 1,800 feet, the Highlands of Tennessee average temperature ranges from the low 50’s December through February. The annual snowfall is 8 inches. May through September, the average temperature is in the high 80’s. The region has four distinct seasons. The main weather hazard in the Highlands of Tennessee is flash flooding.

LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES

The Appalachian Center for Craft, a Tennessee Tech University satellite campus, offers non-degree Craft Certificate programs in clay, fiber, glass, metals and wood. The Cookeville Leisure Services at the Cane Creek Recreation Center offers classes in painting, Tai-Chi, dance and wellness programs. The Fairpark Senior Center in Crossville TN is a progressive learning center catering to Tennessee retirement communities with courses in dance, music, art, computers and more.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE

As a top retirement city, it’s no wonder Cookeville and Crossville offer state of the art medical care to retirees and the best golf communities in the area. The Cookeville Regional Medical Center provides State of the Heart Care and ranked #1 in Tennessee for Overall Cardiac Services, Coronary Interventional Procedures, Overall Orthopedics and Vascular Surgery. Cookeville Regional Medical Center is also home to a Da Vinci Robotics system. The Cumberland Medical Center specialties include cancer care, orthopedics, surgery and wellness services. The CMC Wellness Complex at Fairfield Glade is a 25,000 square foot wellness center winning the Distinguished Achievement Award for progressive wellness care.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

The Highlands of Tennessee is clearly an lover's outdoor playground. With more than a dozen large state parks and three major Tennessee lakes, outdoor enthusiasts have endless opportunities to hike, mountain bike, fish, boat and enjoy the outdoors. The most popular state parks are Burgess Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park and Standing Stone State Park. Fall Creek Falls State Park is named the Resort Park of the Year as one of America’s most popular state parks. Thrill seekers will enjoy cascading down rushing waterfalls and riding the rapids. Photographers will cherish discovering the tallest waterfalls in Tennessee. Cummin Falls was named on the list of Best Swimming Holes in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure Magazine. As the Golf Capital of Tennessee, there are more than a dozen championship golf courses to play in the Highlands of Tennessee. 

SHOPPING AND DINING

As the larger of the two cities, Cookeville has big box stores and national chain stores such as JC Penney, Sears, Belk, Staples and Wal-Mart. The Historic Cookeville West Side District is where you’ll find art galleries, tasty restaurants, old ice cream shops and unique boutiques. Crossville also has a Wal-Mart, Staples, Lowe’s and smaller retail stores. According to Yelp, there are 115 restaurants in Cookeville and 73 in Crossville TN. If you're considering relocating to Tennessee, Cookeville has a nice array of shopping and dining experiences.

HOME AFFORDABILITY AND TAXES

Cookeville Tennessee homes for sale average $142,000 and Crossville homes average $105,000. Real estate here has been recognized by retiree's as places to find low priced homes in Eastern Tennessee at the best golf communities. Cookeville is located in Putnam County and Crossville is located in Cumberland County. The estimated property tax millage rate for Cookeville/Crossville ranges from $.85 - $2.02 per 25% of $100. Tennessee has no state income tax. Visit our library to find help and to learn out how to calculate property taxes in Cookeville Tennessee. 

If you're searching for Tennessee retirement communities, there are a number of friendly neighborhoods we find of interest. Some have championship golf courses, top notch equestrian centers and stocked fishing Tennessee lakes.