Best Places for Business and Careers 2019

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, TN
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Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, TN
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gross metro product
$45.7B
population
883.3K
median household income
$53,507
median home price
$201,000
cost of living
4% below nat'l avg
college attainment
28.8%
net migration
1,710 (year: 2018)
unemployment
3.4%
major industries
Energy, Telecommunications, Financial services
job growth
1.1% (year: 2018)
As of October 2019
population
193.0K
median home price
$308,000
cost of living
85
As of May 2022
The city, named in honor of the first Secretary of War, Henry Knox, is the second oldest city in the state following Nashville. Knoxville is home of the University of Tennessee's flagship campus as well as Fountainhead College of Technology, Johnson University, Knoxville College, Pellissippi State Technical Community College and South College. The university's sports teams, called the Volunteers or Vols, are extremely popular in the surrounding area. Knoxville is also the home of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, almost
entirely thanks to the popularity of Pat Summitt and the University of Tennessee women's basketball team. Knoxville is home to a rich arts community and has many festivals throughout the year such as the Dogwood Arts Festival and Big Ears Festival. Its contributions to old-time, bluegrass and country music genres are also a recognizable feature of the area's signature country culture.
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On forbes lists
Best Places to Retire 2022Dropped off in 2023
#86
Best Places for Business and Careers 2019
#85
In Cost of Doing Business
#105
In Job Growth
#128
In Education
By The Numbers
EmploymentHousingEducationQuality of Life
Job Growth
1.1% (year: 2018)
Projected Annual Job Growth
0.9%
Unemployment
3.4%
Median Household Income
$53,507
Household Income Growth
3.5%
High-Tech Employment
1.9%
  • Data is for the metro area
  • Sources: Moody's Analytics; Sperling's BestPlaces; U.S. Census.
  • Numbers as of October 2019


  • a - Value of 100 means that a family with the median income has exactly enough income to qualify for a typical mortgage on a median-priced single-family home. An index above 100 signifies that the family has surplus income.
Explore Trends
2018
2018
Key Connections
People
Graphic of Stanton J. Jacobs
Stanton J. Jacobs
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Brent Trentham
Companies
Graphic of University of Tennessee Medical Center
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Graphic of Clayton Homes
Clayton Homes
Top Colleges
Graphic of University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

More on Forbes

Aug 20, 2022

7 Reasons Why Knoxville, Tennessee Is A Hidden Culinary Gem

For most Americans, Knoxville is synonymous with three things: hosting The World Fair back in 1982, its proximity to the Smoky Mountains, and the University of Tennessee. But here’s a little-known fact about Tennessee’s third-largest city. It’s home to an exciting and ever-growing culinary scene.
ByKatie ChangContributor
Jul 10, 2018

9 Things To Do Around Knoxville, Tennessee

Planning a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee? Knoxville is your gateway to visiting notable landmarks like the Great Smoky Mountains and the University of Tennessee. The entire family can have fun in the Scruffy City.
ByJohnny JetFormer Contributor
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