Knoxville

Located in the Appalachian Valley, Knoxville is known as the Most Dog Friendly City. This exciting best college town is nicknamed the Lakeway to the Smokies and is home to one of the top colleges in the Knoxville area, the University of Tennessee. Turkey Creek attracts travelers to Knoxville from all around the world for world class shopping.

The 26 story bronze glass Sunsphere decorates the downtown skyline built, a symbol of the 1982 World’s Fair and is one of the most noteworthly tourist attractions in Knoxville along with the Knoxville Greenways. Tellico Lake, Fort Loudon Lake and Norris Lake are Eastern Tennessee lakes which frame out Knoxville combining fresh water boating with golf as the most popular recreational sports at waterfront retirement communities. Forbes Magazine ranked Knoxville on the list of Top 25 Best Bang for the Buck Cities because of the measurable low cost of living, about 11% less than the national average. 

The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville employs hundreds of scientists and Ph.D's bringing smart residents to Knoxville. Knoxville's highly educated population attracts high quality cultural experiences. From the ballet to the opera as well as professional performance theatre companies. Indoor and outdoor festivals take place year round, some festivals attract hundreds of thousands of people because of the quality of the city’s events such as Boomsday over Labor Day weekend.

As one of the best colleges in the Knoxville area, the University of Tennessee Vols fans are sports fanatics and can be easily spotted wearing bright orange. Olympic athletes and champions train in this energetic city. During football season, Knoxville is electrified by excitement from tailgate parties and collegiate team celebrations. Interstate 75 and Interstate 40 provide quick highway access to cities in the every direction. Living in Knoxville is fun and intriguing.

The most popular suburbs to find Knoxville real estate include:

• HOLSTON HILLS: Dating back to the early 1920’s, east Knoxville neighborhoods and golf course communities feature historic stone architecture and estate homes seated on gentle rolling hills canopied by majestic trees. The lots are larger and many have stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Holston Hills average home prices range in the low $200k’s. 

• MARYVILLE: Just south of the McGhee-Tyson airport, Maryville is in close proximity to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The A&E Television Channel named Maryville on the Top 10 Cities To Have it All. Both young families and retiring Baby Boomer’s find Maryville an affordable place to live. Maryville average older home prices range in the low $100k’s where newer homes average in the $200k’s.

• OAK RIDGE: North Knoxville is a region known for innovation and rocket scientists, literally. Oak Ridge is where the 1942 Manhattan Project was developed and is home of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Newer find neighborhoods and master planned communities featuring a bohemian architecture continue to be developed. The Oak Ridge School District is on the list of Top 10 School Districts in the state of Tennessee. Oak Ridge home prices average in the high $200k’s.

• FARRAGUT: As Knoxville continues to expand further west, newer master planned communities with California style-homes can be found in Farragut along with Tennessee’s best shopping area - Turkey Creek. Estate homes on larger lots offer a spacious feel to the West Knoxville neighborhoods. Farragut home prices average in the low $400k’s.

• OLD NORTH KNOXVILLE: Downtown Knoxville is where you’ll find older small homes in close to the University of Tennessee and along the Tennessee River. Architecture styles include Victorian cottages, Tudor bungalows and one level ranch style homes. Homes can easily be found under $100k.

If you’re searching for waterfront retirement communities or starter home neighborhoods, here are reasons why to consider Knoxville:

ARTS AND CULTURE

More than 15 theaters and professional stage companies call Knoxville home. The Bijou Theatre is the city’s largest theater. The Clayton Center for the Arts is located on the Maryville College campus and hosts live music, theatre and dance productions. The world class Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Knoxville Jazz Orchestra perform at the Bijou Theatre, Tennessee Theatre and the Civic Auditorium. The Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee is where you’ll find Tennessee’s only Professional LORT Theatre. The Knoxville Museum of Art is a premier visual arts facility with rotating exhibits, live musical performances and educational classes. The Art Gallery Market on Gay Street showcases original art and crafts from more than 60 local artists. Historic museums in Knoxville include the Blount Mansion, Frank H. McClung Museum and Civil War Trails Markers. Living in Knoxville is like living in an art lovers paradise. 

CLIMATE

At an elevation of 886 feet, Knoxville’s average winter temperature ranges in the high 30‘s December through February. The annual snowfall is 6 inches. May through September, the average temperature ranges in the high 60’s to mid 70’s. Knoxville experiences four mild seasons. Weather hazards include flooding and tornados.

LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES

The Knoxville Museum of Art offers classes in painting, drawing, knitting and mixed media. For the more ambitious, the Knoxville Ballet School offers adult basic ballet classes on Thursday nights or outdoor enthusiasts can sign up for the Smoky Mountain Field School, part of the University of Tennessee. The Smoky Mountain Field School provides high quality outdoor hikes and workshops for folks who want to learn more about the Great Smoky Mountains. The University of Tennessee’s Seniors for Creative Learning (SCL) provides classes and social events to mature adults over age 55, courses in wellness, history, the arts and technology. The individual membership cost is about $40. You'll find there are plenty of colleges in Knoxville TN area to learn a new hobby.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE

The are five ranked hospitals and medical centers in the Knoxville area. Parkwest Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Medical Center are the largest health care facilities. Parkwest Medical Center is a 286 bed facility and has been named a Top 100 Heart Hospital eight times. Specialties include orthopedics, neurology, bariatric surgery and women’s care. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 489 bed teaching hospital and is home to the Brain & Spine Institute, the Cancer Institute, the Heart & Lung Institute and Women’s and Children’s Health Center. Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge with 255 beds is Knoxville’s 2012 Best Ranked Hospital with nine specialties according to U.S. News & World Report. High quality medical care in close proximity to waterfront retirement communities is an important factor for retirees relocating to the area.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

With more than 84 parks and 41 miles of greenways, Knoxvillian’s spend as much time as possible outdoors. The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a free botanical garden where garden enthusiasts congregate for inspiration. The entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is less than one hour from downtown and is one of the top tourist attractions in Knoxville. Boaters have three outstanding fresh water Eastern Tennessee lakes surrounding them to fish, swim and boat: Tellico Lake, Fort Loudon Lake and emerald green Norris Lake. Rowing teams can be observed training on the Tennessee River in downtown. Landlubbers can quickly access public golf courses in West Knoxville. During the football season, Neyland Stadium is filled to capacity watching the University of Tennessee Vol’s battle for the SEC championship. Living in Knoxville offers a high quality of life for all types of lifestyles.

SHOPPING AND DINING

For shopping Diva’s, the largest shopping commercial complex in Knoxville is Turkey Creek and could be the best place to find brand name labels in Eastern Tennessee. This premier 300 acre shopping destination is clearly visible from Interstate 40. Turkey Creek has 19 major brand name stores, 77 retail stores and 34 restaurants. Even the most finicky shopper would be remiss to not find trendy fashions, unique gifts and fine furniture. Foodies will find deliciousness from just about any cultural menu you could be hungry for, all served in one place, at Turkey Creek Shopping Center. Of course, more great restaurants sprawl out into the suburbs. In downtown Knoxville, the Market Square Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays May through November. This open air market is where you’ll find home grown produce, baked goods, free-range meats and dairy products.

HOME AFFORDABILITY AND TAXES

The average price of Knoxville real estate varies by neighborhood because the city is so large. Generally speaking, home prices average in the $150's in Knoxville. Places to live include the fast growing area of West Knoxville adjacent to Turkey Creek, historic Holston Hills in East Knoxville and charming Maryville to the south. Popular lakes to live on include Norris Lake, Tellico Lake and Fort Loudoun Lake.

The Greater Knoxville area includes Knox, Anderson, Blount, Loudon and Union County. The estimated property tax millage rate ranges from $2.32 per 25% of $100. If you live within the city limits of Knoxville, there is an additional estimated city tax of $2.72. Visit our library to find help and to learn how to calculate property taxes in Knoxville Tennessee.  Living in Knoxville offers something for everyone.