Knoxville, TN vs Nashville, TN
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN | NashvilleNashville, TN | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Exposed | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At $50,994, Knoxville, TN and Nashville, TN show a 47% difference in median household income, with Nashville at $75,197 in 2023 Census figures. Per-capita income follows a similar pattern at $33,171 in Knoxville versus $46,820 in Nashville, a 41% difference. The comfortable income for a family of 4 is $61,117 in Knoxville and $109,411 in Nashville, while for a single person it is $41,576 compared to $74,429, both 79% higher in Nashville.
The cost of living index places Knoxville at 88 and Nashville at 131, with Nashville 49% higher, ranking in the 68th percentile versus Knoxville's 37th percentile. Median home values reflect this gap at $214,000 in Knoxville and $383,100 in Nashville, a 79% difference. Median rent is $1,116 in Knoxville and $1,486 in Nashville, 33% higher in Nashville. The nearest large city is 630 miles from Knoxville, placing it in the 78th percentile, while Nashville is 1 mile from its nearest large city, in the 1st percentile.
Violent crime per 100,000 people is 684 in Knoxville and 491 in Nashville, with Knoxville 40% higher and in the 92nd percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people is 2,356 in Knoxville and 1,641 in Nashville, 44% higher in Knoxville. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 19 in Knoxville and 23 in Nashville, 21% higher in Nashville.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 8837th pctl | 13168th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Knoxville, TN 88; Nashville, TN 131; Nashville is 49% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $214,00032nd pctl | $383,10069th pctl | Median home value: Knoxville, TN $214,000; Nashville, TN $383,100; Nashville is 79% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,11642nd pctl | $1,48670th pctl | Median rent: Knoxville, TN $1,116; Nashville, TN $1,486; Nashville is 33% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $50,99414th pctl | $75,19753rd pctl | Median household income: Knoxville, TN $50,994; Nashville, TN $75,197; Nashville is 47% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $41,57632nd pctl | $74,42970th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Knoxville, TN $41,576; Nashville, TN $74,429; Nashville is 79% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $61,11732nd pctl | $109,41170th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Knoxville, TN $61,117; Nashville, TN $109,411; Nashville is 79% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Knoxville, TN B+; Nashville, TN C+; Knoxville is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Nashville needs about
$111,600
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 88 vs 131). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.9%18th pctl | 2.8%15th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.2%55th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $33,17133rd pctl | $46,82072nd pctl | Per-capita income: Knoxville, TN $33,171; Nashville, TN $46,820; Nashville is 41% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 20.5%83rd pctl | 14.1%62nd pctl | Poverty rate: Knoxville, TN 20.5%; Nashville, TN 14.1%; Knoxville is 6.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 20.4 min30th pctl | 24.9 min60th pctl | Average commute: Knoxville, TN 20.4 min; Nashville, TN 24.9 min; Nashville is 4 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 11.1%53rd pctl | 18.3%79th pctl | Work from home: Knoxville, TN 11.1%; Nashville, TN 18.3%; Nashville is 7.2 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 68492nd pctl | 49185th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Knoxville, TN 684; Nashville, TN 491; Knoxville is 40% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,35685th pctl | 1,64164th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Knoxville, TN 2,356; Nashville, TN 1,641; Knoxville is 44% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Knoxville, TN A+; Nashville, TN A-; Knoxville is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | Homesteading potential: Knoxville, TN A+; Nashville, TN B+; Knoxville is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Tennessee, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Tennessee →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 630 mi78th pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Knoxville, TN 630 mi; Nashville, TN 1 mi; Knoxville is 630 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Knoxville, TN D-; Nashville, TN F; Knoxville is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 491 mi68th pctl | 528 mi72nd pctl | Distance to international border: Knoxville, TN 491 mi; Nashville, TN 528 mi; Nashville is 8% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 311 mi56th pctl | 384 mi61st pctl | Distance to coastline: Knoxville, TN 311 mi; Nashville, TN 384 mi; Nashville is 24% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Vulnerable | Strategic location: Knoxville, TN C; Nashville, TN D-; Knoxville is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Nashville, TN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 193,72195th pctl | 684,29899th pctl | Population: Knoxville, TN 193,721; Nashville, TN 684,298; Nashville is 3.5 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,96260th pctl | 1,43943rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Knoxville, TN 1,962; Nashville, TN 1,439; Knoxville is 36% higher. |
| Median age | 33.316th pctl | 34.421st pctl | Median age: Knoxville, TN 33.3; Nashville, TN 34.4; Nashville is 1.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7%54th pctl | 46.9%76th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Knoxville, TN 33.7%; Nashville, TN 46.9%; Nashville is 13.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.216th pctl | 2.218th pctl | About the same |
More about Knoxville's residents · Nashville's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Knoxville and Nashville
- Median rent: $1,116 in Knoxville, $1,486 in Nashville
- Median home value: $214,000 in Knoxville, $383,100 in Nashville
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 88 in Knoxville, 131 in Nashville
- Median household income: $50,994 in Knoxville, $75,197 in Nashville
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $61,117 in Knoxville, $109,411 in Nashville
- Unemployment: 2.9% in Knoxville, 2.8% in Nashville
- Average commute: 20.4 min in Knoxville, 24.9 min in Nashville
- Violent crime per 100k: 684 in Knoxville, 491 in Nashville
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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