Tennessee, known as ‘The Volunteer State,’ adds great cultural and historical value to America. On entering Tennessee, the aroma of spicy barbeques and the sight of lush vegetation will make you think about childhood. Home to legends, Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton, Tennessee has a rich musical heritage. Drive to Graceland or Dollywood to learn more about the musical scene.
Also, this state sure knows how to party. Fairs and concerts are of grave importance to the locals. Whether you prefer smaller fairs or enjoy concert crowds like the CMA Musical Festival, Tennessee sees that you enjoy yourself. If you wish to relocate to this state, our comprehensive guide on moving to Tennessee sure will help you.
What Should I Know Before Moving To Tennessee?
Located in the southeastern region of the United States, Tennessee is landlocked by eight states. To the north you have Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina to the northeast and east, Arkansas to the west, to the northwest there’s Missouri, and Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi to the south. Tennessee is ranked as the 16th most populous and 36th largest by area of the 50 states.
With the state’s population of 6.9 million, Tennessee’s landforms and terrains contribute to the scenic beauty of the state. If you head along the eastern border, you will find the Blue Ridge Mountains that reach elevation levels above 6000 feet. Fancy a trek? Cumberland Plateau consists of a variety of waterfalls and valleys to explore. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, situated in eastern Tennessee is a sight to behold. Tourists either book a hotel nearby or opt for cabins inside the park’s periphery. Being a historical heritage, you should visit the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis to learn more about the African-American struggle.
See Also: Why Should you Move to South East
Crime Rate In Tennessee
It is always good to know about the safety of a place. For violent crimes, NeighbourhoodScout’s data suggests a crime rate 5.95 per 1000 residents. That means your chances of being the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 168. Property crime rate is 26.53 per 1000 residents, so your chances of being a victim is 1 in 38. The national median for violent crimes is 4, making Tennessee’s crime rate a bit higher. Similarly, property crimes are slightly higher than the national median of 21.
Tennessee Weather
Tennessee mainly has a humid subtropical type of climate because of its geographical location. The climate is much colder in some elevated regions than the plains, but freezing temperatures are frequent all throughout Tennessee. So, pack an extra pair of socks and blankets when planning. Summers are hot and humid with an average daily temperature of 90°F (32.2°C). Nights are a bit milder than the day with temperatures beginning at 70°F (21.1°C). With an average daily temperature of 22°F (-5.6°C), winters are bearable and can extend to 33°F (0.6°C). Spring is wet and warm and the temperatures are much better, but are more susceptible to storms. Autumn is relatively dry and pleasant.
Rainfall is almost throughout the year across the state with an annual average precipitation of 50″ (1270mm). If you choose to visit the state between December and April, you will face the wettest period while the driest period is between August and October. East Tennessee experiences a considerable amount of snowfall over 80″ (2032mm) whereas the west hardly gets over 5″ (127mm).
Is It Expensive To Live In Tennessee?
Knowing the weather is not enough. You have to calculate how much of your income is going to go on taxes and utilities. Only after doing that can you have better judgement and hence make a proper decision.
Cost Of Living In Tennessee
Lesser costs mean more income. With 100 as the national average, Tennessee’s cost of living index is 87.6, which means it is cheaper. According to SmartAsset, Tennessee has no state and local tax. So your income tax will be $9,764 whereas your sales tax will be $1,589. Apart from that, you will have to pay $212 as fuel tax and $1,918 as property tax. In total, your total estimated tax burden will be $13,482 as per SmartAsset.
Utility costs are 4% lower than the national average, according to Best Places. Grocery items like a loaf of bread would be $2.78 whereas a carton of eggs would be $1.95. A kg of apples would cost $5.55, and 1 litre of milk would cost you around $0.87 as stated by Numbeo.
Buying A House
The average home prices in Tennessee are approximately $245,000 as per NeighbourhoodScout’s data. Also, NeighbourhoodScout states that the median home value is $191,681 across Tennessee. Looking at the property market, the annual average rate has increased by 8.81%, which is a considerable spike to say the least.
Renting A House
The average rent in Tennessee is lower than the national average. Best Places showcase the different pricings based on the number of rooms in an apartment/house. Rent for a studio apartment will cost you $622 per month, which is $199 lesser than the US average. The average market rent is $1,118 per month. For a one-bedroom, rent would be $696 per month, saving you $234. If you are looking to move in with your family, then rent for a three-bedroom home would cost $1,134 while a four-bedroom home would be $1,332. Here you save $403 for the three-bedroom and $459 for the four-bedroom, respectively.
Utility Bills
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that the monthly electricity bill averages to approximately $123.30 in Tennessee. This is $11.63 higher than the national average bill of $111.67.
In addition, Numbeo and Payscale give an approximate figure of utility bills in Nashville, the state’s capital. A basic 60 mbps internet plan will cost $70, a gallon of gasoline will be $0.61 per gallon and your average phone bill will be $160 per month.
Tennessee Economy And Employment Opportunities
The Volunteer State has a gross state product of $364 billion as of 2020 with the per capita income of $29,859 and the median household income of $53,320. Being a southern state, farm lands constitute 40% of the state’s land area. You might think agriculture is the major contributor to Tennessee’s GDP, but they have contributed only $1.91 billion. Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing have taken over Tennessee’s economy adding $52.59 billion as published by the Statistics Research Department. The manufacturing industry consisting of $47.63 billion is the second most contributor to the economy. The state’s major manufacturing products are computers, transportation and electronic equipment, chemicals, metal products and foods. Having more than 900 automotive companies in the state, the automobile industry is booming as well.
Zippia has calculated the fastest growing jobs in the state. The ones that will be popular within a year, or even a few. Zippia has seen a 155% rise in physical therapy. The starting wage of a physical therapist assistant is $56,870 per annum with 3,630 positions still being in demand in 2024. Similarly, tax preparers have seen a 148% growth in the state’s job market. With an average wage of $50,110 per year, tax preparers will still have 3,400 positions to fill in 2024. Coming to the highest paying jobs in the state, anesthesiologists earn an average salary of $255,210 per annum with family medicine physicians and psychiatrists earning $216,170 and $210,770 subsequently.
Education
If you are still studying or want education for your child, Tennessee has 80 universities and colleges to choose from. Vanderbilt University is highly ranked amongst the top universities of America with a wide range of courses. Its tuition and fees amounts to $73,148, without the $836 First Year Experience Fee. If you fear getting into debt, the state has less expensive universities as well. The University of Tennessee Knoxville offers in-state tuition for $13,006, compared to out-of-state students’ fee of $31,426.
Getting Around Tennessee
Air Travel
You have 4 major airports in Tennessee for air travel. But among these, the Nashville International Airport is the busiest, commuting 14 million passengers and handling 520 daily domestic and international flights. If you need to travel from Shelby County, Memphis International Airport caters to international travel where major airlines like Air Canada, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest, United, and Vacation Express operate from.
Rail Travel
Amtrak train services are your best bet for travelling within or outside Tennessee. Amtrak’s City Of New Orleans traverses to both of the state’s train stations where Memphis Central Station is Amtrak’s major depot. If you feel like sightseeing, Tennessee has a handful of excursion trains to show you the more scenic route of the state. Explore the Hiwasee Gorge and Hiwassee Loop with The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Tennessee Central Railway are well known for their Civil War reenactments, murder mysteries and train robberies
Road Travel
The Tennessee Department Of Transportation (TDOT) looks after Tennessee’s main highways. There are 7 primary highways, running across the state and connecting Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia.
Buses
Express buses are prominent in Tennessee covering all 20 cities of Tennessee. The average cost of a bus ticket is $76. The cheapest ticket is $15 whereas the pricest one is $214. Miller Transportation has the highest in-state coverage whereas for out-of-state travel, Jefferson lines is the best. Based on reviews, Miller Transportation and Jefferson lines have the best ticket prices and substantial seating arrangement. You can go onto their website and even request a quote.
See Also: Tennessee DMV Change Of Address
Best Cities To Live In Tennessee
1. Germantown
Located in Shelby County, Germantown is regarded as one of the richer neighbourhoods of Tennessee. With a population of 39,193, this city has stood first as the No. 1 city to live in, as per the rankings in Homesnacks. If you do retail or commercial service, you are in luck because Germantown’s economy is dominated by these sectors. The parks are nationally accredited and horses are a huge passion of this city.
Annual horse shows and competitions, such as the Germantown Charity Horse Show in June, are held to preserve lively banter among the locals. The security of this city is tight and the police average response time is just under 4 minutes. The crime rate is 45% lower than the national average, making it one of the safest cities to live in America. The average median income is $118,163, meaning Germantown is one of the best places to earn a living.
- Median Home Value: $331,700
- Median Home Rent: $1,387
- Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
2. Brentwood
Known as the city of ‘Burning Faith,’ Brentwood is located in Williamson County, Tennessee. This quaint city, having a population of 42,407, is known for its quality schools and recreational areas. Crockett Elementary School and Brentwood High School are certain to provide quality education to your children, as US News ranks them among the top in the state.
Brentwood has numerous parks and recreational facilities in them as well. Plan a day out with your family and friends and visit Concord Park, Crockett Park, Primm Park, and Owl Creek Park. The city of ‘Burning Faith,’ has a closely knit business community, so the median income is approximately $168,688. Brentwood’s crime rate is 61% lower than the national average, deeming it as one of the safest neighbourhoods of the state.
- Median Home Value: $655,400
- Median Home Rent: $2,085
- Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
3. Spring Hill
Being a city in Maury and Williamson counties, Spring Hill is located just 48 km (30 miles) south of Nashville. With a population of 39,711, the city is listed in the Nashville metropolitan area. The impeccable level of education in the city makes it one of the best neighbourhoods to raise a family, according to Homesnacks. If American history intrigues you, visit Rippavilla Plantation and the Battle of Spring Hill site. The household median income is approximately $90,778 per annum, which means that a family can earn a good income. Crime rate in Spring Hill is 59% below the national average. So you will not have to worry about security.
- Median Home Value: $286,800
- Median Home Rent: $1,369
- Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
Is Tennessee A Good Place To Live?
Summing up everything, the cost of living is less expensive than other states, the food is amazing and it has a stellar music background. The weather, especially summer, can get too humid and hot, so plan your move months before. The housing market has improved, so it is the best time to purchase or rent one. The people are hospitable and jolly. Almost everyday, there is something to do, never a dull day in Tennessee. If all of this attracts you, then moving to Tennessee is definitely worth considering for you.
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