Knoxville, TN, is a Great Place to Raise a Family
Affordable, educational, fun – Knoxville has the perfect family environment.
They say being a parent is the toughest job in the world, but one thing that makes parenthood easier is being surrounded by a supportive community. Knoxville, TN, largely fits the bill. Located in East Tennessee, this area is home to kind, helpful people as well as a plethora of kid-friendly events and venues, quality education options and youth programs.
“There are so many available activities like Zoo Knoxville, [Ijams] Nature Center, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, which has a lot of hiking and biking, and Baker Creek Preserve, which has mountain biking trails, too,” says Beth Waldmann, a mother of two. “We utilize our local parks and go to local events. Sunset Cinema does free family movies in the summer. It’s incredible to have these experiences available here, and many of them are free.”
Eager to learn more about what this area has to offer? Find out why Knoxville, TN, is a great place to raise a family.
In This Article
Knoxville, TN, has Quality Education Options
When it comes to education, Knoxville’s high-quality public schools are a major draw.
“Both of my girls attend a public elementary school in Knox County. One of the reasons my husband and I chose to raise our family in Knoxville is [because of] how great the public schools are here. You don’t have to send your children to a private school to ensure they are receiving a quality education,” says Lauren Bouch, a mother of three.
Knox County Schools, for example, has career-themed academies at district high schools called 865 Academies. These programs allow students to participate in authentic, work-based learning, take part in job shadowing and career exploration opportunities, work with professionals in their fields of interest, and create stronger connections between classroom knowledge and workplace success.
For those who wish to further their education, qualifying students can receive up to five semesters of tuition-free community or technical college through Tennessee Promise. Knox Promise, which works to help Tennessee Promise students succeed at obtaining a degree, provides additional financial and coaching support.
Knoxville, TN’s, Cost of Living is Reasonable
Raising a family can be pricey, but living in Knoxville does not create excess expenses.
“Knoxville is an affordable place to live, especially compared to other cities in Tennessee,” Bouch says. “When my husband and I first got married, we moved to Nashville, but soon realized that we wanted to move back to Knoxville before starting a family and buying our first home. The cost of living in Knoxville is much more doable for us.”
According to PayScale’s Cost of Living Calculator, Knoxville’s cost of living is 15% lower than the national average. Plus, according to Zillow, Knoxville’s average home value is $338,302, while the average in Nashville is $430,946 (September 2023).
Knoxville, TN, Has Free/Low-Cost Activities
Affordable entertainment for the whole family is also easy to find here.
“I’m a big lover of the library, so we love the large library system in Knox County. There are lots of branches and just an endless list of programming, from your classic story time to Legos, writing and even things for adults,” Waldmann says. “One thing they rolled out is the Read City Explorer Pass. It allows you to reserve passes for area attractions like the zoo or the Knoxville Symphony. You can use your library card to visit these great places absolutely free. You just have to make a reservation.”
Waldmann also notes Knoxville’s proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains, where her family enjoys visiting Cades Cove, and Seven Islands State Birding Park.
“It’s amazing that just a short drive from your house, you can be immersed in nature. We’ve seen bears, turkeys, deer, and we bring a picnic and play in the streams at Cades Cove,” Waldmann says. “At Seven Islands State Birding Park, my daughter had the opportunity to help tag monarch butterflies there, as it’s one of the stops on their migration.”
Knoxville, TN, Offers Programs for Kids
The city boasts several fun and educational programs for children. One example is Safety City, a community service project of the Knoxville Police Department.
“It’s not summer at our house unless we visit Safety City, which is a miniature version of Knoxville that’s a series of streets that kids can bring their bikes and scooters on to learn to be safe on the road and on a sidewalk. It’s free and open to the public every summer,” Waldmann says. “When it comes to organized sports for kids, there’s a wide variety of things your children can do and different levels of commitment, since some families want their child to have the experience of playing on a team and working together and aren’t ready for the level of a travel team.”
The Knoxville Museum of Art offers a Summer Art Academy, and the City of Knoxville Parks & Recreation Department offers summer camps for children ages 6-12 and 12-16.
“Knoxville has so many options when it comes to summer camps. The Summer Camp Guide on the Knoxville Moms website is a great comprehensive list,” Bouch says. “There is a camp that covers almost any interest you could think of. My girls have participated in several dance camps and cheer camps at area dance studios and churches over the years. They always have a fun theme like Bluey or Moana, and they are an easy way to give them an activity during summer break.”
Knoxville, TN, is Full of Family-Friendly Venues
No matter what activities your family loves, Knoxville is sure to have a venue that meets your needs. Ijams Nature Center has 12+ miles of trails as well as bike and canoe rentals, and Navitat Knoxville, an adventure park in the forest, offers zip lines and climbing. It also allows for adventures under the stars.
Plus, Zoo Knoxville is a popular destination for people of all ages, and Muse Knoxville is a children’s science museum that works to inspire and empower children through transformative learning experiences. Open Tuesday through Sunday, Muse is home to play spaces, a planetarium, which hosts a variety of shows, like “One World, One Sky,” and several exhibits that relate to health, the outdoors, science, the senses and space. It’s truly a space where children can learn and thrive. In addition to Muse, plans are in the works for Knoxville to get a new $100 million science and discovery center.
“There’s always something to do in Knoxville,” Waldmann says. “We love going to the farmers market, where kids get their own tokens to shop. Many people don’t know that we have the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, which has a lot of hands-on activities. Top Golf recently opened in Knoxville, and we have Main Event, a bowling alley and arcade, and Maple Hall, which is more of an upscale bowling alley.”
This article was sponsored by the Knoxville Chamber. Learn more about the amazing quality of life Knoxville offers at LifeRedefined.com.
