10 Reasons to Move to Oak Ridge Right Now
But don't just take our word for it. Three Oak Ridgers share what they love about living and working in this East Tennessee gem.
For Katie Wilson, it’s the sense of community. For Edwena Crowe, family comes to mind. And Miguel Pettus puts the local school system at the top of his list.
Ask residents what they love about living in Oak Ridge, and you’ll hear about a lot of things, from places to eat to much-loved community traditions. Here are 10 things folks love about being an Oak Ridger.
In This Article
1. Discover a Sense of Community Here
This is a diverse community, but one that pulls together. “There’s a strong sense of community in Oak Ridge, which I have always loved,” says Katie Wilson, who teaches sixth-grade English language arts at Jefferson Middle School, where she herself was a student. “When you come from Oak Ridge, there’s a great sense of pride.”
2. Score a Great Education
The city’s school system is consistently highly ranked, and the focus of this science-based city. (Niche ranked Oak Ridge fifth best in Tennessee in 2022). More than 80% of Oak Ridge Schools teachers have a master’s level degree. STEM is a vital part of the curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, preparing students for success in work and in life.
3. Find a Great Place to Raise Children
For Edwena Crowe, it is a winning combination of great schools, neighborhoods and outdoor options (she gives props to Oak Ridge Country Club golf) and community cohesiveness. “Oak Ridge is a wonderful place to raise children,” Crowe says. Crime here is low, housing costs are manageable – the median home value is $248,350 (May 2022, Zillow) – and the community is invested in growing and improving infrastructure and business.
Bonus! You Can Afford to Live Here
The cost of living in Oak Ridge is 15% lower than the national average and the typical home value is a reasonable $266,000 (Zillow, April 2023).
4. Shop Locally (No Need to Leave Town!)
With growing retail and service choices, a trip to Knoxville is usually not necessary (unless it’s Saturday and the Vols are playing at home). “I don’t have to leave Oak Ridge unless I want to,” Wilson says.
The city continues to move forward with the $100 million Main Street Project that is creating a new downtown in Oak Ridge. Retailers now doing business in the district include Dick’s Sporting Goods, Electronic Express, HomeGoods, Maurices, Old Navy, PetSmart, Rack Room Shoes, TJ Maxx, Ulta, JCPenney, Buff City Soap, Belk and Wal-Mart. Once all the downtown construction is finished, about 1,000 new jobs will be added to the economy along with around $2 million annually in sales tax revenue.
5. Get Going with Great Greenways
Oak Ridge maintains 1,566 acres of forested greenbelts around the city, and miles of walking, hiking and biking opportunities on its greenways. “I feel like we’ve created a healthier community,” Wilson says. “There are connecting trails that go all over, so we have opportunities to get outside, and the weather is pretty conducive year-round.”
6. Sip and Savor Your Way Through Oak Ridge
Survey says: Aubrey’s. And Calhoun’s Pizza, burgers, meat and three, for sure. The Farmers’ Market for healthy food items. And increasingly, Oak Ridge offers date-night options right in town like 201 Cafe and Wine Bar, which often features live music and local talent.
7. Partake in Plenty of Pristine Parks
Oak Ridge enjoys a phenomenal park system, with 17 community parks scattered around town, offering playing fields, miles of trails, picnic areas, quiet spaces to sit and think, and a variety of landscapes.
A.K. Bissell Park is home to the International Friendship Bell, a monument to the relationship between Japan and Oak Ridge. Melton Lake Park boasts 173 miles of shoreline, walking, running and biking trails, and is also the site of a nationally ranked rowing venue.
8. Land Your Next Rewarding Job Here
Oak Ridge is nationally recognized as a technology hub, with significant work being done in research, science, engineering, supercomputing, energy and national security.
Good-paying and rewarding career opportunities are available at employers including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UCOR and Y-12 National Security Complex. The tech sector continues to grow with the recent attraction of companies like TRISO-X (nuclear fuel) and Kairos Power (nuclear engineering).
9. Enjoy Outstanding History and Entertainment
There’s much to do and see here. The city offers four outstanding museums that tell the Atomic City’s story: The American Museum of Science and Energy, the new K-25 History Center, the Oak Ridge History Museum and the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
Performing arts are also popular here, including the Oak Ridge Playhouse. Bissell Park Pavilion occasionally hosts groups like the Oak Ridge Symphony and Chorus, as well as the Community Band. And in the summer, ORNL Federal Credit Union presents its own summer concert series at the pavilion.
10. Look to the Future
The city is on the move, with lots to look forward to. Residential developments are currently under construction in three subdivisions. One of the most popular destinations is The Preserve at Clinch River development, which is within minutes of parks, golf courses and a marina.
In addition, Main Street Lofts is an apartment complex that is selling fast in the downtown district. More housing developments are in the works to attract additional residents, especially from a pool of workers who commute to Oak Ridge from 10 surrounding counties. About 23,000 people come into the city each day to work.
“Oak Ridge is a great place to live now, and we have great plans to grow and build the city,” says Rachel Pettus, project manager for ORNL Federal Credit Union. “It will be even better – wait and see.”
– Staff Writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
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