Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Tennessee

More and more people are choosing Tennessee to relocate to every year. The “Volunteer State” is the sixth state per net migration in the country. So, we’re not surprised you’re looking for information about moving to this southeastern area of almost 7 million people.

In this article we help you find out where the best places to live in Tennessee are and if they have what is important to you. First, though, let’s have a look at some of the reasons why you might like living in Tennessee overall:

• No state income tax. The "Volunteer State" doesn’t collect taxes on wages, neither on inheritance, nor estates.
• Low cost of living. Tennessee is the 10^th most affordable state in the country. The typical home value remains low at $303,453.
• Great hospitals. When it comes to healthcare, in Tennessee you can find excellent facilities such as the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the CHI Memorial Hospital, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
• A booming job market. Thanks to business-friendly policies and regulations, Tennessee is attracting more and more companies and corporations. FedEx Corp., Amazon, Kaiser Aluminum, Oracle, Mitsubishi, Dell, AllianceBernstein, Nissan, GM, and Medacta USA are just a few of them.
• Beautiful nature. If you’re into mountains, forests, lakes, waterfalls, and extremely beautiful fall scenery, this is the state for you. Check out the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee River Gorge, or Cherohala SkywayThe Lost Sea for instance.
• Music. Live music and entertainment are a way of life in Tennessee. In Memphis and Nashville especially, you’ll be amazed by the choice of spots that play country music, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and more.

Finding a new place to call home is no easy task. To help you in such an important decision we compiled a list of the best places to live in TN, and analyzed what each has to offer:

Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a city of around 182,000 people in the very southeastern part of Tennessee, bordering with Georgia. It’s considered one of the best places to live in Tennessee for many reasons. For example, it’s a growing spot with all sorts of amenities, but it has preserved its small-town feel. It also has a lower cost of living than the national average and the rest of "The Volunteer State".

Plus, it’s built around the Tennessee River with easy access to both Nashville and Atlanta. On top of that, the breathtaking outdoors you can enjoy in Chattanooga include mountains, lakes, ridges, and the river even gained the city the nickname of the "Scenic City". Do you need another excuse to move here? The job market is expanding with plenty of roles in production, automotive and advanced manufacturing, food and beverage, as well as the presence of corporate headquarters and offices.

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Knoxville

Knoxville is the third largest city in the "Big Bend State", and one of the best places to live in eastern Tennessee. It’s located only 80 miles from the border with North Carolina and on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If that’s not enough for you, in the area, there are many more parks, lakes, and reservoirs to explore such as the Big Ridge State Park or the Cherokee Lake. Not into the outdoors? It’s no biggie, in Knoxville you can find art, culture, and many festivals and events as well. Check out the Historic Tennessee Theatre, the Museum of Art, the Symphony Orchestra or the Dogwood Arts Festival.

Well-rated schools, professional development opportunities, low unemployment rate, and a low cost of living also make Knoxville one of the best places to live in Tennessee for families and young adults alike. The University of Tennessee is located here and is home to 30,000 students and to “The Vols”, the college football team everybody is obsessed with. Life science jobs are big in Knoxville, but so are sales, retail, and education roles.

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Johnson City

Johnson City is famous for being the birthplace of a well-known carbonated soft drink, Mountain Dew, and as the home of East Tennessee State University. However, it has much more to offer than that. If you’re longing for a slower pace of life, affordable housing, low cost of living, and you work in healthcare or related careers look no further than Johnson City. This city of around 70,000 souls, placed in the northeastern tip of the state, is without a doubt one the best places to live in Tennessee.

Being at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is perfect for those that enjoy mountains, lakes, streams, waterfalls, and scenic natural beauty. Plus, it’s safe, people are welcoming, and you won’t go thirsty or hungry with all the dining and brewery options available. Education, business operations, and sales are other main sectors that provide job opportunities in town.

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Memphis

In the "Big Bend State’s" southwest corner lies Memphis, the second largest urban area in Tennessee. Famously known for Elvis Presley, rock 'n' roll, and blues, this city is a real must-see for any music fan. Here you can visit the Blues Hall of Fame, Memphis Rock 'N' Soul Museum, the Beale Street Entertainment District, and much more. For a history dive, check out the National Civil Rights Museum and the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. Memphis is also one of the best cities to live in Tennessee for its very low cost of living and housing, and the job opportunities it offers. Transportation, life sciences, and a great variety of manufacturing productions are the sectors that drive the economy in this city.

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Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro is a city of more than 150,000 residents an hour away from southwest Nashville. Just like other areas in Tennessee, Murfreesboro is experiencing a booming economy. The largest number of job offers come from healthcare, insurance, and warehousing, as well as retail and sales. Despite its growth, the city not only preserved all its parks and greenways, but it’s planning to create even more.

This, and all the events that are held here during the entire year, make Murfreesboro one of the best places to live in Tennessee for families. If you belong to a younger crowd, fear not. Murfreesboro’s nightlife has often been compared to Nashville’s, but “without the crazy”.

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Nashville

The capital of Tennessee, Nashville is a well-known destination for its music scene, great entertainment options, and wild nightlife. In “Music City” you can see the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Grand Ole Opry, the historic Music Row district, and a full-size replica of the Parthenon in Athens. However, Nashville is not just a great spot to visit, but one of the best places to live in Tennessee, and in the U.S. for its desirability, affordability, and job prospects.

The economy is thriving and attracting more and more corporations and businesses, such as Amazon, Facebook, Dell, Oracle, and more. IT and other tech jobs are plentiful here, just like entertainment and food service positions. Other sectors to job search within are healthcare and education.

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Smyrna

20 minutes south-east of Nashville we find Smyrna, home to around 55,500 people. This is one of the best places to live in Tennessee if you’re trying to settle in a peaceful community while having everything a big city provides close by. That doesn't mean you’re going to be bored in Smyrna, though.

There’s plenty to do between parks, green areas, and family-friendly entertainment options. For instance, you can skate at Skate Center Smyrna, play at Strikes Bowling Alley or at Game Galaxy Arcade. As far as jobs go, the largest employer industries in town include advanced manufacturing, sales, healthcare, and production.

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Find Your Career Path in the Best Places to Live in Tennessee with Help from Monster

Monster is your number one ally to find the right job for you in the best places to live in TN. It’s very easy, just set up a free account and upload your updated resume. We’ll promote your profile to our partner companies and recruiters to increase your chances of success. Plus, you can activate customized alerts to receive the latest job postings to your email.