Why are so many people from FL moving to TN? (Memphis: insurance, good schools)

[KevinM107]

I've noticed several threads and posts here on CD about Floridians moving to Tennessee. If you're a former Floridian who has relocated to TN, or a current FL resident seriously thinking about going to TN, how did you choose Tennessee over other areas like the Carolinas, Kentucky or Virginia? Why do you (or did you) want to leave Florida?

[JMT]

Originally Posted by KevinM107

I've noticed several threads and posts here on CD about Floridians moving to Tennessee. If you're a former Floridian who has relocated to TN, or a current FL resident seriously thinking about going to TN, how did you choose Tennessee over other areas like the Carolinas, Kentucky or Virginia? Why do you (or did you) want to leave Florida?

Tennessee, NC, KY, and VA are very similar in landscape and beauty. However, Tennessee doesn't get as cold as KY and VA, and, perhaps more importantly, Tennessee has a much lower tax burden than any of those states.

I happen to like Tennessee's cities more, too. And, so far, Tennessee hasn't been ruined by all those half-backs the way NC has.

[Blue Ridge]

Originally Posted by JMT

Tennessee, NC, KY, and VA are very similar in landscape and beauty. However, Tennessee doesn't get as cold as KY and VA, and, perhaps more importantly, Tennessee has a much lower tax burden than any of those states.

I happen to like Tennessee's cities more, too. And, so far, Tennessee hasn't been ruined by all those half-backs the way NC has.

Interestingly enough, to accompany the lower tax burden, the state-maintained roadways are generally in better condition than those in North Carolina and Virginia. That's just my humble opinion from traveling; I haven't been west of Nashville and normally roam around Knoxville and points east.

[LauraC]

I'm not from Florida but I would guess a lot of retired Floridians, formerly from NY and NJ, choose the east side of NC to be along the I-95 corridor and after researching a trip to Michigan can see why retired Floridians formerly from Michigan and western Ohio would choose East Tennessee to be near the I-75 corridor. As far as working people go, I don't have a clue, since you usually move to the place where your job is located.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by jmattjohns

Interestingly enough, to accompany the lower tax burden, the state-maintained roadways are generally in better condition than those in North Carolina and Virginia. That's just my humble opinion from traveling; I haven't been west of Nashville and normally roam around Knoxville and points east.

I agree with you 100%. And NC just increased their gas tax (again) to pay for badly needed road improvements. Our roads in TN are surprisingly good considering how low our taxes are.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by JMT

Tennessee, NC, KY, and VA are very similar in landscape and beauty. However, Tennessee doesn't get as cold as KY and VA, and, perhaps more importantly, Tennessee has a much lower tax burden than any of those states.

I happen to like Tennessee's cities more, too. And, so far, Tennessee hasn't been ruined by all those half-backs the way NC has.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. That's it. End of story.

We moved from Florida six years ago. I'm from the northeast and purposely moved to this area because I realized a lot of Florida escapees were moving to NC. I had enough of that mentality. The "move somewhere and complain constantly about the new place" attitude.

I like the weather best in Knoxville and Chattanooga. I like the downtown revitalization of Knoxville. Chattanooga's riverfront is beautiful but most of the changes were geared toward tourists and not its people. Job situation in Knoxville is best in the state out of all of the largest MSAs. People are super friendly. We have good schools, amazing and numerous parks...just amazing bang for our tax buck.

[KevinM107]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I like the weather best in Knoxville and Chattanooga. I like the downtown revitalization of Knoxville. Chattanooga's riverfront is beautiful but most of the changes were geared toward tourists and not its people. Job situation in Knoxville is best in the state out of all of the largest MSAs. People are super friendly. We have good schools, amazing and numerous parks...just amazing bang for our tax buck.

A lot of what you're all saying here makes sense to me; I can certainly understand why people might want to get away from the hurricanes and associated high homeowner's insurance costs in FL. But as far as Knoxville's weather, it's still going to be humid in the summer and probably (fairly) cold in the winter, since you're in the mountains, right? Didn't you all get some pretty bad storms and tornadoes in that area not long ago too?

So Knoxville's job situation is even better than that of Nashville and Memphis?

[Pam& Bill]

[quote=KevinM107;20462662]A lot of what you're all saying here makes sense to me; I can certainly understand why people might want to get away from the hurricanes and associated high homeowner's insurance costs in FL. But as far as Knoxville's weather, it's still going to be humid in the summer and probably (fairly) cold in the winter, since you're in the mountains, right? Didn't you all get some pretty bad storms and tornadoes in that area not long ago too?

So Knoxville's job situation is even better than that of Nashville and Memphis?

Knoxville is not in the mountains. Yes we did get some unusual severe weather here recently. But it is a very rare thing, I think middle and west Tn. get more violent weather then East Tn. gets.
Pam

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by KevinM107

A lot of what you're all saying here makes sense to me; I can certainly understand why people might want to get away from the hurricanes and associated high homeowner's insurance costs in FL. But as far as Knoxville's weather, it's still going to be humid in the summer and probably (fairly) cold in the winter, since you're in the mountains, right?

Is east TN cold compared to FL, yes, compared to someplace like MI, no.
You might need a warm coat and a pair of gloves to get you through a brief period of cold weather, but you won't need a snow blower, probably not even a shovel. Snow is not common.
Hot and humid, again depends on what you're comparing with. Compared to any of the Gulf Coast cities I've lived in, no, not really. It can get uncomfortable in the summer but the duration and intensity is nowhere close to a place like Houston or Mobile.

Tornado watches and warnings are pretty rare here, unlike west TN where they are just an accepted part of life during certain seasons.

[JoAnn5]

Why are so many people from FL moving to TN?

Because we have a better football team