Retiring in Knoxville, TN

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

87°/32°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$374,802

Housing (Typical Value)

742.8

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

3 of 5

Healthcare (Hospital Rating)

Is Knoxville Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 193,721, Knoxville offers a mid-size city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Low hurricane risk
Low wildfire risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Wet climate
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated tornado risk
Elevated ice storms risk

Potential advantages. FEMA and NOAA assign lower risk designations to hurricane and wildfire.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 87°F. Annual precipitation is 51.9 inches. The reported violent crime rate is 742.8 per 100,000, 107% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 2733.8 per 100,000, 55% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to tornado and ice storms.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)87°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)32°F

Annual snowfall4.6"

Annual precipitation51.9"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$374,802near the US median of $371,774

Median gross rent$1,116/mo20% below the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate742.8 /100,000107% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate2733.8 /100,00055% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate384.6 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalFort Sanders Regional Medical Center (0.6 mi)

Hospital quality★★★☆☆ (3 of 5)

Primary care accessStrong (915 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index11.6/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population193,721Classified as a mid-size city

Elevation882 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingRelatively Moderate

Coastal floodingN/A

TornadoRelatively High

HurricaneRelatively Low

WildfireVery Low

EarthquakeRelatively Moderate

Ice stormsRelatively High

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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