Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Tennessee
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 01-30-2020, 06:19 AM
 
404 posts, read 380,776 times
Reputation: 758

Advertisements

Hi there! We are planning a 10 day trip through E TN to start narrowing down potential areas for retirement.

What we're looking for: 20,000-100,000 or so population, good stores within 15-30 minutes (at least tjmaxx-type stores. Would love Target, Trader Joe's, Costco, etc within 30-45 minutes. Closer would be preferable.) Hiking/running paths, community concerts/theater, parades and festivals, community center or OLLI. Really - just the usual things people like in any town. Decent healthcare options. <$300,000 for housing (1500-2000 sq ft.) Would consider a 'nice' 55+ community if there were lots of activities available. Nothing too rural.

Towns/Regions on our list:
Cookeville
Maryville
Crossville
Johnson City
Chattanooga (maybe - we've been there and like it. I know it is bigger than our criteria but maybe being on the outskirts would work.)

Is there any region that tends to be sunnier than the others? I'm from Michigan and the gloomy winters kill me. The humidity will be an issue for hubby but hopefully we can acclimate (or come back north for part of the summer.)

We probably only have 10 days so I need to figure out the key regions to visit on this trip to get a feel for the area. We can always come back another time to look more closely.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 01-30-2020, 06:54 AM
 
Location: TN/NC
35,060 posts, read 31,278,237 times
Reputation: 47519
If a Costco and TJ's "upper middle class" type of retail is important, the smaller towns outside of Knoxville are really your only option. Everywhere else on this list is either too small or too poor to get that kind of retail.

I'm from Kingsport, but have lived in Johnson City and now Bristol. Costco recently said the Tri-Cities just isn't wealthy enough or populated enough to justify them expanding here, so that's a no-go. Johnson City residents have tried for years to get this kind of retail to no avail. While we have a regular Target, there are no plans for a Super Target. Obviously no Meijer

UT Medical Center is probably the best hospital in east TN. The regional providers don't really come close. I've seen a lot of patients from Johnson City referred to UT Medical Center for various needs. Send me a direct message if you want more information.

Johnson City meets the rest of the boxes and is a nice city in and of itself, but it's hamstrung by its isolation and Sullivan County being uncooperative with regional economic development efforts.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 07:46 AM
 
404 posts, read 380,776 times
Reputation: 758
Thanks for your input. TJ and Costco is not a requirement - we don't have them here where we currently live (need to drive a couple hours to get to them) - so I could probably live without, I just always wish I lived somewhere with better shopping. Having a Target nearby would be great.

At one point I decided that any town that had a minor league baseball team was probably the right size for me. Most of the ones I've seen have at least some decent shopping/restaurants and a pretty strong community feel to it. I guess I should start researching what towns in TN have Minor League Baseball.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 08:00 AM
 
585 posts, read 634,549 times
Reputation: 1614
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwnmo View Post
...I guess I should start researching what towns in TN have Minor League Baseball.
Sevierville, and rumored to be moving to the Old City portion Knoxville in the next few years. Rumor only at this time.
P.S. - I believe there are only three Costco's in the entire state. Nashvegas, west Knoxville, and Chattanooga. As for Trader Joe's, there's one in west Knoxville and one in Nashville. There's another one close to Sevierville, but it is over the state line in Asheville, NC.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 08:07 AM
 
Location: Florida
14,968 posts, read 9,801,283 times
Reputation: 12074
You have a good list, but too many to visit and get a feel in 10 days. I'd pick one in middle TN and one in east TN.

My wife and I did the same thing, but we did it over a number of years 2002 -06 when still working and spent 2 weeks in the the two areas (middle and east). If I was gonna live full time in TN I'd lean towards middle Tennessee. I like a more rural setting and acreage is important. I'm still in a small town, live on a few acres on a ridge, but not truly rural like in Florida, where we live mostly.

Since we live in Florida and Tennessee, but spend more time in Florida (7-8 months) we decided East Tennessee fit our needs best. We like Maryville and made Blount county our home. You will have all your needs met in Maryville. We live in Townsend.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 09:21 AM
 
13,351 posts, read 39,950,637 times
Reputation: 10790
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe View Post
Sevierville, and rumored to be moving to the Old City portion Knoxville in the next few years. Rumor only at this time.
P.S. - I believe there are only three Costco's in the entire state. Nashvegas, west Knoxville, and Chattanooga. As for Trader Joe's, there's one in west Knoxville and one in Nashville. There's another one close to Sevierville, but it is over the state line in Asheville, NC.
There are five Costco locations in Tennessee: 2 in Memphis, 2 in Nashville, and 1 in Knoxville. Chattanooga's is just over the line in Georgia and, therefore, has lower sales tax. Costco is building a 3rd location in the Nashville area in Murfreesboro.

There are two Trader Joe's locations in Nashville.

I'll put in a plug for Cookeville which is on the OP's list. It's got lots of shopping--TJMaxx, HomeGoods, Sam's Club, Ross, Publix, Ollie's, Aldi ("Trader Joe's light")--and is surrounded by spectacular beauty: 100+ waterfalls, 1200 miles of lakeshore, a dozen state parks, a large regional hospital that's partnered with Vanderbilt, one of the nation's top medical centers. It absolutely checks off the OP's other criteria, too: lots of community festivals, parades, free concerts/symphony/Shakespeare in the Park, etc. And it's only an hour from Nashville which has gobs more to do, including the cheapest and largest airport in the state which could come in handy if you want to head out or if friends want to come visit. And while Cookeville doesn't have minor league baseball, it does have NCAA sports including what was last year ranked the "4th best baseball experience" in the entire NCAA, behind Clemson, LSU, and Florida State.

For the OP, here are samples of homes in the 1500-2000 sq ft range that have recently sold for less than $300k. You didn't specify what kind of home, so I'm including a variety just to illustrate what the area is like.

Condo in the middle of town, a block from Kroger:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...9539564_zpid/?

Another in-town condo, a block from Food Lion:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...12155195_zpid/

And another in-town condo, up the street from Publix:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...0079740_zpid/?

Downtown rancher, walking distance to a 1930s-era golf course and the downtown courthouse square:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6...41991003_zpid/

A custom-built home on a golf course:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...41989092_zpid/

Another home in a different golf course community, wildly popular with retirees:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...41988498_zpid/

Outside of town in a mountain-top development:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...1228103_zpid/?

6 acres just outside of town:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4...1999684_zpid/?

7 acres just outside of town:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...1992561_zpid/?

In town, just a couple of blocks from a paved biking/walking trail that connects downtown Cookeville, the university, and downtown Algood
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...41987837_zpid/

New construction in town:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6...1990966_zpid/?
__________________


IMPORTANT READING:
Terms of Service

---
its - possession
it's - contraction of it is
your - possession
you're - contraction of you are
their - possession
they're - contraction of they are
there - referring to a place
loose - opposite of tight
lose - opposite of win
who's - contraction of who is
whose - possession
alot - NOT A WORD
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 10:24 AM
 
404 posts, read 380,776 times
Reputation: 758
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMT View Post
For the OP, here are samples of homes in the 1500-2000 sq ft range that have recently sold for less than $300k. You didn't specify what kind of home, so I'm including a variety just to illustrate what the area is like.
Thank you for this. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be somewhere in walking distance to downtown.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 11:32 AM
 
13,351 posts, read 39,950,637 times
Reputation: 10790
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwnmo View Post
Thank you for this. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be somewhere in walking distance to downtown.
I totally understand. My elderly mother (80s) recently left Knoxville and moved to downtown Cookeville. She loves it. She walks to do most of her errands: bank, doctors, library, post office, the year-round organic farmers market, daily run to the bakery, and a large downtown park with free concerts, Shakespeare, etc. The only thing she doesn't like about living downtown is that streets around her house are often closed for parades and other downtown festivals. She feels totally safe and is thriving.

My 20-something niece also just moved to downtown Cookeville from Texas. She walks to her job, walks to the grocery store, and really uses her car only to go to church.

Now that I know you're interested in living downtown, here are samples of other places in downtown Cookeville that have recently sold for less than $300k.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4...41991322_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...70537704_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...41991081_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...41991089_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...81256884_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...41991297_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4...41990895_zpid/
__________________


IMPORTANT READING:
Terms of Service

---
its - possession
it's - contraction of it is
your - possession
you're - contraction of you are
their - possession
they're - contraction of they are
there - referring to a place
loose - opposite of tight
lose - opposite of win
who's - contraction of who is
whose - possession
alot - NOT A WORD
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 12:38 PM
 
Location: TN/NC
35,060 posts, read 31,278,237 times
Reputation: 47519
One thing to keep in mind is that most of these cities are small. A person can be from basically any point in Johnson City to any other point in the city in no more than fifteen minutes. Maryville and probably Cookeville are similar. It's not like you need to spend a full day in each one to get a general feel of the area. You could easily fly into Knoxville, drive to Maryville, and end up in Crossville in a day unless you are looking at houses in each city.

Also, northeast TN has multiple teams in the Appalachian League of the MILB. This is a "rookie advanced" league that starts in June and goes until around Labor Day. The Tennessee Smokies in Kodak play a nearly full length season and are affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.

https://www.milb.com/appalachian
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-30-2020, 01:21 PM
 
Location: Florida
14,968 posts, read 9,801,283 times
Reputation: 12074
A day? naw, need more time then that. If the shoes fit, ya still you got walk in them a bit, to see if they're worth keeping.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Tennessee

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top