Reasonable commute? (Knoxville, Maryville, Farragut: apartment, rental, how much)

[ArcticPhoenix]

Okay, so the wife and I have settled on moving to Knoxville next year (probably in the spring)... or, at least, the area... but what I wanted to know is, what are some good towns to live in that are within driving distance to the airport?

What towns should I be looking at for relocation? And, what's the difference in rental prices throughout the area? Are there big ranges? How about for housing prices? I've figured that I should be able to buy a house in the area for less than 120K (I just want a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath house), but I don't want a terribly long commute... However, I also don't want to be able to smell jet fumes from my front door.

When we move, we'll be getting an apartment at first and then looking for a house to move into ASAP... how much can a 2 bedroom apartment go for in the area? And, again, is there a wide range in prices (all things considered)? I realize that the short answer is "it will depend", but I'm NOT looking for luxury here. I don't want to live in a ****hole like I do now, but I also don't need to live in a high rise with a view of a river, mountains, and bus access.

Also, how bad are the winters there as far as commuting? From everything I can tell the winters in Knoxville are down right tropical compared to where I'm living now (Eastern Washington). But how much snow does the area really get and how cold is it usually in the dead of winter?

[jabogitlu]

Hate to say it, but, "depends" haha. Where are you commuting to? Will you work at the airport?

As far as recommendations, of course look in Alcoa first. Too, Maryville is the obvious choice, but home prices are probably gonna get you there. The problem is that some of the usual recommendations - like Lenoir City - are hard to get to from the airport. You either have to go up 40 and back down 140, or come in through Friendsville which can take a while.

You might find something pretty cheap east of Maryville (towards Townsend) which would still put you within driving distance of the airport. But that's a good long way (out of commuting distance) from downtown Knoxville and west Knoxville.

Closer back in, look in the Blue Grass up toward Kingston Hills. I think (not that familiar with the area) these homes are a bit more affluent, but you could find a good deal and that would put you in between Knoxville proper and the airport, and with easy access to Farragut.

[ArcticPhoenix]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Hate to say it, but, "depends" haha. Where are you commuting to? Will you work at the airport? Yes, it will be the airport.

As far as recommendations, of course look in Alcoa first. Too, Maryville is the obvious choice, but home prices are probably gonna get you there. The problem is that some of the usual recommendations - like Lenoir City - are hard to get to from the airport. You either have to go up 40 and back down 140, or come in through Friendsville which can take a while. Is the traffic bad through those areas?

You might find something pretty cheap east of Maryville (towards Townsend) which would still put you within driving distance of the airport. But that's a good long way (out of commuting distance) from downtown Knoxville and west Knoxville. I don't particularly care about being close to downtown Knoxville... if I go there, it will probably be for something specific, and will be a planned trip.

Closer back in, look in the Blue Grass up toward Kingston Hills. I think (not that familiar with the area) these homes are a bit more affluent, but you could find a good deal and that would put you in between Knoxville proper and the airport, and with easy access to Farragut.

What are conditions like in the winter as far as commuting? Are the roads worked fairly well, or do people freak out if there's 2 inches of snow on the ground?

[Barking Spider]

Yes people do freak when there is two inches of snow on the ground. The grocery stores are emptied of milk and bread within minutes of the first snow flakes.

However, the good news is, we hardly ever get two inches of snow that sticks around for more than a day.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by ArcticPhoenix

What are conditions like in the winter as far as commuting? Are the roads worked fairly well, or do people freak out if there's 2 inches of snow on the ground?

People freak out. That's because there rarely is any snow.

I see that you grew up in West Virginia. No snow like that. We get a dusting and it melts in a couple of hours. This year we had a bad winter. Twice, we had a couple of inches and it stayed on the ground for a couple of days.

The earth stood still.

School was canceled for at least a couple of days.

We also had three days where daytime temps did not go above 29. Very, very unusual. We have a lot of days in the 40s and 50s in the winter. Even 60s. It's gorgeous here, compared to the north.

We had icy conditions one day, in the past four years. It was a humdinger, with lots of accidents. It was during morning rush hour and totally unexpected. People were already on the roads when it started to freeze.

That's not the norm here, either.

Love, love, love the weather.

[jabogitlu]

This past winter seemed to me to be one of the most severe I've ever lived through in east TN. The temps were pretty rough. (Nothing compared to up north for sure...) This summer's also been pretty cool, though, so that's nice! :-D

[Kitties of Domination]

Expect a few nights in the teens, with an occasional 5-10 degree reading every 5 years or so.

[piedmont]

For an easy commute to the airport with lower housing costs (120k), I'd be looking at south Knoxville, Rockford and Alcoa.

There is not much winter here in the valley. Snow happens at elevation in the Smokeys or on the Plateau.

[mbmouse]

I wanted to give this OP a suggestion of a place to look in that I used to really like driving and chose to use that route instead of 40 if I had to go to Alcoa or south Knox but for the life of me I can not remember the name of the road! As I know I will KNOW it as soon as I hear the name, I am going to ask the more local Knoxvillians to help me out. Follow me here: If you are driving from East of Knoxville towards Knoxville on 40, take the Straw Plains Parkway, go left off the ramp, go past the convenience stores, restaurants and truck stop, past Phillips, keep going until the road goes down to two lane. Follow that past that beautiful horse farm on the left with the nice white fencing all around it. Then you will come to a main intersection, take a left......what road is that? I know it is a mans name and there is a college down that road with the same name.......... help?

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

I wanted to give this OP a suggestion of a place to look in that I used to really like driving and chose to use that route instead of 40 if I had to go to Alcoa or south Knox but for the life of me I can not remember the name of the road! As I know I will KNOW it as soon as I hear the name, I am going to ask the more local Knoxvillians to help me out. Follow me here: If you are driving from East of Knoxville towards Knoxville on 40, take the Straw Plains Parkway, go left off the ramp, go past the convenience stores, restaurants and truck stop, past Phillips, keep going until the road goes down to two lane. Follow that past that beautiful horse farm on the left with the nice white fencing all around it. Then you will come to a main intersection, take a left......what road is that? I know it is a mans name and there is a college down that road with the same name.......... help?

I think you mean Gov John Sevier Highway (168). If you take the left from Straw Plains and get on John Sevier and take it the entire way it takes you down to Alcoa Hwy. Of course, there are numerous options along the way.