Moving to knoxville 2015 (Oak Ridge, Maryville, Seymour: to rent, car insurance, crime)

[crystalworrall44]

Hello. This is my first post so please bare with me. Me my husband and four year old daughter currently live in Villa Rica, GA which is about 35 minutes West of Atlanta. We, along with my mother in law plan to move to Knoxville in March of 2015. My husband is a warehouse specialist so we would need to live in a good proximity to some type of work along those lines. My mother in law has friends that live in the Strawberry Plains area so she knows she likes that area we want to be very close to her, but what is most important to her is different than what is most important to us. We want good schools, safety is a big factor, to be far enough outside of downtown that we get a small town feeling, but close to parks, good restaurants, grocery shopping, and isn't a 30 minute drive to wal mart. We will be renting a house for the first year or two with my mother in law just because we are all close and it will help us adjust. We are going to be looking to rent a 3 bed 2+ bath for no more than $1,000 a month. Then when we do buy a house on our own our price range will be no more than $150,000. I have read posts on here saying steer clear of East Knoxville because crime and drugs, then South Knoxville is dumpy and run down, and there is nothing in North Knoxville, then people say how nice west Knoxville is but housing is very expensive for our budget and we don't plan on living well beyond our means even though the schools are obviously good there. Definitely not trying to offend just what I have gathered from numerous things I have read, but of course I know a few posts don't mean the whole area is like that. I just know with all of the people who rant and rave about Knoxville there HAS to be a nice town with affordable housing, good schools, near or close enough to fun things for my little girl, and a decent drive to warehouse jobs. HELP!! Lol. Thanks. Also the places that have stuck out to me are Oak Ridge, Seymour, and Fountains City. Do any of these places fit our wants?

[Bones]

"so we would need to live in a good proximity to some type of work"

You have answered your own question. Job will dictate what area you move to....

[crystalworrall44]

No, not really. Because he would drive further to have us in a safe area with good schools. And I still don't know where he might have the best luck to find a warehouse job, or any of re other important things I mentioned but thanks??

[Bones]

"good proximity" means different things to different people. To me it would be 5 miles (less sitting in traffic, gasoline $$$, lower car insurance rates).....to someone else it might be50 miles with over an hour drive each way....

You really don't want to live on the West side of town out say 8 -10 miles and work on the East side out 8-10 miles.....

Only move with a job in hand, then we can help out with your requests near that area to rent first and get settled in....

JMHO....

[crystalworrall44]

Yeah I totally get what your saying. I guess I am more just asking what area of Knoxville seems the best fit for us. We are coming in two weeks and are going to do to the light festival in Clutch Park and will try to check out downtown Knoxville and fountain city then we will do another trip to check out the west Knoxville area. We just don't want him to find a job and him take it and it end up being a bad part of town. We rather know before he starts looking where he would accept a job.

[creeksitter]

If your husband will be working at forks of the river, I recommend looking at homes zoned for New Hopewell or Bonnie Kate, possibly Gap Creek. South Knoxville is not all dumpy, particularly not in those school zones. Although i will admit there are pockets of dumpiness scattered here and there they are the exception. Mostly nice suburban homes.

He may find work in Eastbridge - not too familiar with the schools out east but I think there is a lot of support for Carter.

There are a few warehouses near downtown that you might consider a "bad part of town", but there will be pleasant family neighborhoods within a 10 - 15 minute drive. Knoxville's just not that big.

[crystalworrall44]

That is just what I needed creeksitter thank you. Just don't want him to start applying for jobs when the time comes and it end up being far away from a good neighborhood. We are going to take a few trips but sometimes things can look much different than they are. Just want a nice safe place to call home Thank you again.

[Barking Spider]

The good thing about Knoxville is that there are very few areas that are NOT safe. Of course, safety is a relative term. While I may be comfortable in one neighborhood, others may not, and vice versa.

Also, a lot can change by the time 2015 rolls around.

Take some time during your visit to drive around the area and get a feel for what might be a good fit for you.

[crystalworrall44]

Is Maryville or Fountain City a easier/faster drive to downtown Knoxville?

[DaveC20853]

Fountain City is definitely closer to downtown.