Knoxville, Tennessee has an overall cost of living index of 97.7, which is 2.3 points below the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,191 per month, while the typical home is valued around $239,700. Households earn a median of $54,039 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 43. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$54,039
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,191
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$239,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
97.7
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,177
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,184
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,471
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,864
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
97.7
Goods
96.3
Rents / Housing
96.0
Services
91.2
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $119,990 |
| Registered Nurse | $81,910 |
| Elementary Teacher | $63,920 |
| Electrician | $52,830 |
| Accountant | $79,890 |
| Plumber | $52,090 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $363,510 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,690 |
| Operations Manager | $114,940 |
| Market Research Analyst | $76,590 |
| Health Services Manager | $124,370 |
| Truck Driver | $57,270 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
195,185
Latest estimate
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Census ACS
43.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
20
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,099
Per month
Avg Home Value
$267,189
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 37849 | — | $921 | $234,600 |
| ZIP 37871 | — | $842 | $178,700 |
| ZIP 37902 | — | $1,190 | $493,900 |
| ZIP 37909 | — | $1,081 | $244,500 |
| ZIP 37912 | — | $1,003 | $162,500 |
| ZIP 37914 | — | $1,001 | $177,500 |
| ZIP 37915 | — | $439 | $213,000 |
| ZIP 37916 | — | $1,102 | $244,400 |
| ZIP 37917 | — | $1,016 | $165,400 |
| ZIP 37918 | — | $1,026 | $213,500 |
Showing top 10 of 20 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
39°F
July Avg
79°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
30.4
poor
Hospitals
6
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
88.4%
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 97.7. The US national average is 100, so Knoxville is 2.3 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Knoxville is $1,191 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Knoxville is $54,039 per year.
The median home value in Knoxville is $239,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Knoxville has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 43.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Tennessee is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
