Every year, US News and World Report puts out its Best Places to Live in the U.S. rankings based on information about the local job market, cost of living, access to health care, and desirability, among other factors. All four big Tennessee cities made the list, but Knoxville and Chattanooga beat out Memphis and Nashville in the rankings!
The article mentions Tennessee's location, within a day's journey to more than 60% of the U.S., as a great reason to live here, plus praises the southern hospitality you'll find here.
Here's how each Tennessee city compared:
Memphis: Rank 122
Population: 660,715
Median Home Value: $161,463
Median Monthly Rent: $1,149
Median Household Income: $57,877
Unemployment Rate: 9.1%
Memphis is ranked 122 out of 150 major cities on the list. Tennessee's second biggest city may be the cheapest one to live in, but property and violent crime rates in the area are far above the national average.
Nashville: Rank 50
Population: 700,764
Median Home Value: $388,516
Median Monthly Rent: $1,487
Median Household Income: $79,367
Unemployment Rate: 4.63%
Music City is the most populous city in Tennessee and is also the most widely visited. It's growing fast and is one of the top destinations for new residents in the country.
Knoxville: Rank 29
Population: 225,725
Median Home Value: $230,533
Median Monthly Rent: $1,098
Median Household Income: $60,386
Unemployment Rate: 4.42%
Personally, we'd rank Knoxville higher because, well, we know what we know. But here's what the US News and World Report says: Knoxville ranks No. 29 out of the 150 major cities in the U.S., with a cost of living that's slightly lower than in Chattanooga, thanks to lower housing, utility, and transportation costs. Knoxville residents also benefit from an average morning commute of just 25 minutes, and the city has a healthier job market than similarly sized U.S. cities. Home to the University of Tennessee, this city is a multicultural community that embraces an array of pastimes. Out of the city’s eight public elementary, middle and high schools, seven are recognized on our Best High Schools list.
Chattanooga: Rank 27
Population: 207,841
Median Home Value: $247,928
Median Monthly Rent: $1,125
Median Household Income: $68,057
Unemployment Rate: 5.12%
Chattanooga is Tennessee's smallest city on the list, but its population growth was a factor that moved it up on the list. While the median household income, at $68,057, is below the national average of $75,149, area residents benefit from a particularly low cost of living.
