Knoxville (Chattanooga, Franklin, Hendersonville: how much, house prices, transferring to)

[sprint4809]

We currently live in the suburbs of Boston and are transferring to Tennessee. Since my husband travels for business we need to be near an airport. We've looked at the Nashville area but are interested in learning more about the Knoxville area. I have three boys, one is at Delaware Univ and one that will be entering college and my youngest will be entering 9th grade - so schools are important! He also races winged microsprints and hopefully would like to continue racing some venue when we get there.

Can someone recommend a community, suburban-like, with good schools, shopping and culture?

[TXboomerang]

If your husband has to pay for his own travel, you'd be better off in Nashville. Flights in and out of Knoxville are usually 25-50% higher than a major airport like Nashville or Atlanta.

Otherwise, Knoxville is really cool IMO. Its more in the hills if you like that type of terrain. Winters are mild as far as I can tell, even though I've only been here 3 months. Not warm, but I don't think its very common to see the temps dip into the teens or single digits.

[utvolsfan13]

Good point about the airport. Flying out of Knoxville is definitely much more expensive than Nashville. You may also want to check out Chattanooga, but again, expensive airfare. Chatt is closer to Atlanta though, but it's still a fairly long drive. I love the Nashville area. There are tons of suburbs and they vary a lot. I have family in Hendersonville. It's about 20 minutes north of Nashville. It's a very modern suburb. You could also check out Gallatin. It's right by Hendersonville and is growing pretty rapidly. Both locations aren't too far from the Nashville airport. They're both on Old Hickory Lake too, which is awesome. It's a dammed part of the Cumberland River and is widely used by boaters and such.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by sprint4809

We currently live in the suburbs of Boston and are transferring to Tennessee. Since my husband travels for business we need to be near an airport. We've looked at the Nashville area but are interested in learning more about the Knoxville area. I have three boys, one is at Delaware Univ and one that will be entering college and my youngest will be entering 9th grade - so schools are important! He also races winged microsprints and hopefully would like to continue racing some venue when we get there.

Can someone recommend a community, suburban-like, with good schools, shopping and culture?

I'm from Massachusetts. I think you would like the Franklin area near Nashville. If you are selling a home in Boston you will be able to find a very nice home there.

Knoxville is more like Worcester. It is a VERY small city.

[Milo Bloom]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I'm from Massachusetts. I think you would like the Franklin area near Nashville. If you are selling a home in Boston you will be able to find a very nice home there.

Knoxville is more like Worcester. It is a VERY small city.

Small? 400k people in Knox County, that's not even counting the other 8 counties in the metro area. I'm sure it's small compared to Boston, but it still has almost everything that any city of good size should have.

There are a multitude of different housing options in and around Knoxville, and they have the distinct benefit of being cheaper in general than Nashville, and the traffic is much better in Knoxville than in Nashville. Also you are much closer to the mountains, and are absolutely surrounded by reservoirs, state parks, national forest and two national parks. (OK, one is a National Recreation Area)

Yes, the flights out of Knoxville are more expensive than Nashville, but the airport is smaller and easier to get in and out of. It is also very clean and modern.

If schools are the number one priority, then Maryville, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, and western Knox County schools will be the ones to watch. I doubt house prices will be an issue for you, knowing how much housing costs in Boston. Just come down and take your pick; there's everything from turn of the century farmhouses to brand new McMansions to be had for reasonable prices in all of those areas.

[hiknapster]

I love Knoxville. I rave about it all the time. But I come from a small town near Worcester, Mass. and I am very comfortable living in Knoxville. Honestly, Knoxville even reminds me of Worcester. It looks a lot like it, including the hills.

This person is coming from Boston, and if she is seeking a similiar place then I suggest she go with Nashville. She wants a suburb so I suggested Franklin.

You have to understand that I come from where she is living, so she understands what I am telling her.

There is no need to be offended. Sheeeesh!

Population, according to city-data:

Worcester: 172,648
Knoxville: 173,890

Boston: 589,141
Nashville: 545,524

[theJCkid]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I love Knoxville. I rave about it all the time. But I come from a small town near Worcester, Mass. and I am very comfortable living in Knoxville. Honestly, Knoxville even reminds me of Worcester. It looks a lot like it, including the hills.

This person is coming from Boston, and if she is seeking a similiar place then I suggest she go with Nashville. She wants a suburb so I suggested Franklin.

You have to understand that I come from where she is living, so she understands what I am telling her.

There is no need to be offended. Sheeeesh!

Population, according to city-data:

Worcester: 172,648
Knoxville: 173,890

Boston: 589,141
Nashville: 545,524

He is talking about Knox COUNTY'S population. Knox county's population is probably over the 500K mark by now, it's a fast growing area. Sure, Knoxville is small compared to Boston, Nashville, Chicago, etc. but i've never heard anyone call it VERY small, thats just insanity. Any city that has skyscrapers, a major university, and a metro population nearing 700K is not what I consider small.

[Eat]

Originally Posted by theJCkid

He is talking about Knox COUNTY'S population. Knox county's population is probably over the 500K mark by now, it's a fast growing area. Sure, Knoxville is small compared to Boston, Nashville, Chicago, etc. but i've never heard anyone call it VERY small, thats just insanity. Any city that has skyscrapers, a major university, and a metro population nearing 700K is not what I consider small.

Something else to consider, these posts are surfed later by people who were not part of the original conversation and may take away a completely erroneous impression. The term city is usually taken to mean an incorporated municipality. In that sense, Loudon, for example, might well be termed a VERY small city. Knoxville would probably be best described as a medium sized city.

[tntim]

According to city-data, Worcester County has a population of 783,262 covering 1513 square miles. Knox County has a population of 404,972 covering 508 square miles. Based on this and the city populations I would say that Hiknapster’s comparisons are accurate. But I think that both cities would be considered medium sized cities.

[LauraC]

I think Knoxville, Boston and Nashville are huge cities. I think anyplace with a population over 50,000 is huge and 35,000 - 50,000 populations are medium but I have to agree with hiknapster on this one. sprint4809 is more likely to like Nashville, if she likes Tennessee at all.