2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Knoxville

Tennessee (TN)

Best for: Outdoor-oriented families, university workers and remote professionals seeking East Tennessee value

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability80.6/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population202,021

Median Home$340,000

Median Rent$1,200

Median Household Income$52,000

Cost of Living~94.0 (US=100; 2024 city/metro estimate)

Average Commute20.0 min

Unemployment~3.5% metro (2026)

Metro AreaKnoxville, TN

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

80.6overall

Housing & Financial Reality51.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living95.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability64.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity87.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness86.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place93.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion59.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape98.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging92.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment79.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture90.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity81.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionLow to moderate. Commutes are relatively short by U.S. city standards, although major corridors still slow during peak periods.

Weekend EscapeOutstanding. Major natural areas, trails, water or mountain recreation are close enough to shape regular weekend life.

WalkabilityAbout 31/100 citywide Walk Score. The city is car-dependent overall, so neighborhood choice strongly affects daily convenience.

Airport AccessExcellent. McGhee Tyson Airport provides a strong and growing network of nonstop domestic routes.

Outdoor AccessExceptional. Outdoor access is one of the city’s defining advantages, with major trails, water, mountains, coast or regional recreation close at hand.

Healthcare AccessStrong to excellent. Major hospital systems and specialty providers offer practical access to routine, emergency and advanced care.

Air QualityGenerally manageable, with summer ozone, heat, humidity, pollen and occasional smoke as the main seasonal concerns.

Third Places / Social LifeExcellent. Restaurants, cafés, parks, arts venues and events provide a strong everyday social fabric.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Improving

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Knoxville is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #125 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest livability advantages are mountains; tennessee river; university of tennessee; healthcare; culture, while the clearest tradeoffs are housing costs rising; traffic growth; car dependence; humid summers. The profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE