Nashville

Nashville vs. Knoxville: Where Should You Live in 2027?

Nashville vs. Knoxville for 2027: population, income, home values, rent, growth and crime side by side.

Updated October 2026 · Smart Movers Club research desk

Quick answer

Nashville has a median home value of $383,100 and rent of $1,486/month; Knoxville sits at $214,000 and $1,116/month. Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville and $50,994 in Knoxville. Pick based on the job, neighborhood and commute you will actually have.

MetricNashville, TNKnoxville, TN
Median home value$383,100$214,000
Median rent$1,486/mo$1,116/mo
Household income$75,197$50,994
Population change+0.0%+1.0%
Violent crime / 100k (state)499499
Home value ÷ income5.1×4.2×
State wage income taxNoneNone

Verdict factors to check before you decide

  1. 1Price the whole address: taxes, insurance, utilities and HOA, not just the listing.
  2. 2Confirm the exact city, county and school assignment for the address.
  3. 3Drive the commute at the hours you will actually travel.
  4. 4Check flood, heat and storm exposure on official maps.
  5. 5Compare crime at the jurisdiction level, then visit at night.

Frequently asked questions

Nashville vs. Knoxville: Where Should You Live in 2027?

Nashville has a median home value of $383,100 and rent of $1,486/month; Knoxville sits at $214,000 and $1,116/month. Median household income is $75,197 in Nashville and $50,994 in Knoxville. Pick based on the job, neighborhood and commute you will actually have.

Where does this data come from?

Figures come from the Smart Movers Club app, which compiles U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates and FBI state crime rates. Census figures are survey estimates, not live listing prices.

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Sources and method

Figures are medians across the top-scoring places the Smart Movers Club app tracks in each state, compiled from public data. Census values are survey estimates, not current listings; crime rates are state-level. This is research, not financial or legal advice.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons.