New to Oak Ridge and Needing to know where to live (Knoxville: apartment complex, rentals)

[Robert21oc]

I am in the process of moving from Chattanooga to Oak Ridge due to a job offer. I am familiar with West Knox but am completely clueless about Oak Ridge. I have a wife and 9 month old and am looking for an apartment for a year until me get settled and am wondering which areas are good AND which areas I need to stay away from. Any insight would be great. Thanks

[SillyinKnoxville]

Hello!

I grew up near Oak Ridge but do not live there now. I will check with some family members who currently live in OR to see what they might recommend in OR itself.

However, if you are more familiar with West Knoxville, you might prefer to live there and commute. I have friends who commute from the Lovell Rd. area of Knoxville, and it isn't a terrible commute. Look into Lovell Rd/Dutchtown Rd/Hardin Valley areas. There are lots of new apartment complexes in these areas. If you prefer to rent a house (either in Knoxville or Oak Ridge), Craigslist seems to be the best place to find private rentals.

[Ariakkas]

off the top of my head, the manhattan apartments and a few blocks behind them should be avoided, tho just across the street is the walmart and the movie theatre which is fine.

there's an area called "the valley" least thats what it was called when i still lived there a few years back, that should be avoided completely. theres not really any reason to go there at all. its on the south end of town behind the kroger.

there used to be some really bad apartments on hillside road, but ive heard they've been torn down or something. when i visit oak ridge now i dont go by that area usually.

everywhere else is fine. briarcliff is the "best" neighborhood in the city. lots of nice homes and considered safe.

[Aavoxx]

Rolling Hills is a very large apartment complex in Oak ridge. I've lived here twice, and the price is nice, but I'd avoid it unless you can't find anything else. Quality of people is on the decline and the staff is iffy at best.

[LovinLife2007]

It depends what price range you are looking for. I've lived in OR for 5 years now, so I know the area pretty well. Definitely avoid ANY apartments back behind Big Lots. That's "The Valley" area, and lots and lots of crime happening out there, even though they have 2 very new nice apartment complexes out there. Also avoid British Woods apartments. See them in the paper alot with car break ins. I have lived in Tara Hills, and they were ok. Not super fancy, but affordable, and we never had any problems. Avoid Manhatten apartments, they're pretty gross. They recently built a new set of apartments over off Emory Valley Road. I can't think of the name of them, but they're super nice, but the price also is super high. Like I said, just depends what price range you're looking for. Oak Ridge definitely lacks decent apartment buildings.

[Max4Speed]

I would agree that you might want to look in the west knoxville area near lovell rd since commute isn't bad at all.