#8. Knoxville – Affordable Cities 2018
It should be no surprise that Knoxville is a great city to live in — besides its idyllic location in the foothills of the Smokies, it’s made our Top 100 Best Places to Live list in the past — but it may come as a surprise that Knoxville is such an affordable place to live. Like the other cities on this list, residents spend less across the board on necessities — but in particular, buying a home here is still a realistic dream for many buyers. The median home price is around $70,000 less than the national median. Further, Tennessee has next to no income tax, save for a tax on interests and dividends.
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Knoxville is also home to the University of Tennessee (UT), and for residents with school-age children, Knoxville has some excellent options for public schools — two have received a GreatSchools rating of 10, while a whopping 19 rank at seven or higher.
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Knoxville clearly can cater to growing minds, but it’s a great place for bodies as well — out of Tennessee’s 95 counties, Knox County ranks in the top 9% for health outcomes and healthy behaviors, and comes in second for health factors. This is no doubt helped by Knoxville’s multiple well-regarded hospitals and medical centers, including East TN Children’s Hospital and the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Looking for entertainment options? There’s lots to do for fun in Knoxville. You can spend your Saturdays donning the signature orange of the Vols and tailgating with friends, or exploring the Great Smoky Mountains just a stone’s throw away.