Knoxville, TN — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

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Knox County · Knoxville · population 198,722

Investors
Knoxville, TN
Image: Wikipedia · Knoxville, Tennessee
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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71
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Knoxville stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 9.1% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $371,202
1-year +0.8%
5-yr CAGR +9.1%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.0%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$371k$150k$228k$307k$386k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
40/100
Car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
30/100
Minimal transit
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
98/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,729/mo$1,121$1,487$1,853202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent154145100120140160202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 17.9
Lean buy

At a 17.9 price-to-rent ratio, Knoxville is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
54 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
84 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
65 · w16%
Rent YoY
46 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
84 · w10%
Long thesis

Knoxville has held up across the cycle: home values at $371,202 with +9.1% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Knoxville's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Knoxville

Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, with an estimated population of 198,722. The population grew 1.0% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Knoxville is $371,202 as of 2026-04, up 0.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +9.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Knoxville average $1,729 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.1%). The composite momentum score is 71 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 9.1% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
●Net positive migration: population up 1.0% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Knoxville (Wikipedia)

Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Tennessee River within the Appalachian Mountains, it is the largest city in the Grand Division of East Tennessee. Knoxville had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Tennessee. The Knoxville metropolitan area has an estimated 958,000 residents.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

City facts

MayorIndya Kincannon (D)
Area104.25 sq mi
Elevation886 ft
Settled1786
Density1931.90/sq mi
Named forHenry Knox

Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Knox County right now.

NWS active alerts (TN)Tennessee Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Knox County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Knoxville

39 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Westmoreland Heights$1,463,239+7.0%
2Kingston Pike$961,003+2.8%
3Forest Brook$714,319+3.6%
4Downtown Knoxville$689,674+2.1%
5Deane Hill$683,712-1.2%
6Westwood$571,248+3.6%
7Old City$539,720+1.3%
8West Hills$493,115-1.7%
9Fourth and Gill$488,658+4.7%
10Forest Hills$486,801+3.8%
11Fort Sanders$477,782+11.2%
12Island Home$447,892+6.7%
13Holston Hills$443,942+0.8%
14Lake Forest$344,888+2.3%
15Old North Knoxville$337,333-2.0%
16Old Sevier$329,882+7.0%
17Lonas Drive$317,727+2.1%
18West Haven Village$309,466+1.3%
19Colonial Village$309,234+2.2%
20Norwood$307,762+0.6%
21Fountaincrest$293,758-5.9%
22Alice Bell$282,754+0.4%
23North Hills$277,823+0.1%
24Parkridge$268,530+0.2%

See the full neighborhood ranking →

Cities like Knoxville

Franklin, TN73 · RisingMaryville, TN71 · RisingBrentwood, TN69 · RisingJohnson City, TN68 · Rising

Run the numbers for Knoxville

ToolCan I afford Knoxville?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Knoxville rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Knoxville to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolKnoxville cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
47° / 28°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
88° / 68°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
207
~57% of year
Annual precip
54″ rain
5″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Knoxville listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Knoxville area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$64,700
Tennessee state median
Top industries (state-level)
HealthcareMusic/EntertainmentManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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