What is the best Tennessee city to move to? 2024 study says these East TN cities top the list

Diana Leyva, Knoxville News Sentinel
·3 min read

What makes a city so appealing? Walkability? Weather? Nearby restaurants? The quality of schools? USA Today Homefront considered these factors and more when determining the best cities to live in Tennessee for 2024. According to the study, the state's natural, outdoor beauty, cost of living and Southern charm makes the Volunteer State a standout option for people considering relocating.

The study found that from 2022 to 2023, Tennessee’s population grew by 1.1%, making it the eighth fastest-growing state in the U.S. Additionally, Tennessee is among the most affordable states to live in the country, thanks in part to the state not charging income tax.

Among the top contenders were several Middle Tennessee cities like Franklin, Clarksville, Gallatin and Hendersonville. Coming out on top was the East Tennessee city of Johnson City, followed by Kingsport, Cleveland, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. At the bottom of the list was Columbia, Brentwood, Nashville, Collierville, and Bartlett. Placing last was the Birthplace of Rock and Roll — Memphis.

What are the best cities to move to in Tennessee? East Tennessee cities rank highly

Johnson City performed well across multiple categories, including health care, public safety, dining options, and quality of schools. Furthermore, it is located near several state parks, adding to the city's family friendly culture. According to the study, the life expectancy of a Johnson City resident is 74 years, the median income is $54,173 and the typical rent payment is $1,287. The typical home is valued at $276,204 and the unemployment rent is 3%.

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Coming in at No. 2 was Kingsport, also located in East Tennessee. Kingsport mainly stood out in terms of affordability. Of all cities considered, it had the lowest typical rent payment of $1,185 and the lowest homeowners insurance premium of $2,019 annually.

"These economic advantages, combined with its musical heritage and scenic surroundings, make Kingsport an attractive place to live for artists and nature enthusiasts on a budget," said USA TODAY Homefront.

2024 analysis: These East Tennessee cities scored big on list of in-demand spots for homebuyers

Rounding out the top three was Cleveland, located in the East Tennessee County of Bradley. Cleveland, located less than 40 minutes north of Chattanooga, is yet another affordable option. Cleveland enjoys some of the lowest rental rates in the state, with typical rents at $1,418. The city is also resilient against climate events, it ranked third least at risk for high losses due to severe weather.

Notable cities like Nashville and Memphis ranked poorly due to higher crime rates and healthcare options. Music City also experiences a much higher cost of living. Nashville home values are 37% above the state average and typical rent payments are valued at $1,893.

Best cities to live in Tennesse

  1. Johnson City

  2. Kingsport

  3. Cleveland

  4. Knoxville

  5. Chattanooga

  6. Franklin

  7. Gallatin

  8. Clarksville

  9. Hendersonville

  10. Jackson

Worst cities to live in Tennessee

  • Murfreesboro

  • Spring Hill

  • Germantown

  • Smyrna

  • Columbia

  • Brentwood

  • Nashville

  • Collierville

  • Bartlett

  • Memphis

Methodology

In order to determine the best places to live in Tennessee, USA TODAY Homefront ranked 20 cities across the following 16 metrics. The population threshold was set at 40,000.

  • Walkability

  • School district ratings

  • Number of restaurants

  • Number of activities

  • Estimated primary care providers per 1,000 residents

  • County-level life expectancies

  • Severe weather events

  • Number of violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents

  • Expected annual loss from natural hazards

  • The ratio of home values for single-family homes, condos and co-ops to median household income

  • Typical rent for all home types

  • Percentage of renters who pay more than 30% of income to rent

  • Median annual homeowners insurance premiums

  • Unemployment rates at the county level

  • Percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree

  • Regional price parity

USA TODAY Homefront contributed to this report

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Which are the best Tennessee cities to live in? Why East TN tops list