Quality of Life

THE TENNESSEE LIFESTYLE.

In Tennessee, we think the quality of life should be high and the cost of living should be low. No other state offers the lifestyle Tennessee provides.

Make your life where you make your living. Whether it’s the sophistication of our big cities or the southern charm of our small towns, our state offers a cost of living well below the national average.

From the foothills of the beautiful Smoky Mountains to the broad banks of the Mississippi, the Volunteer State spans three distinct regions, each with its own personality. You’ll have plenty of room to stretch your legs and plant your roots.

Tennessee boasts some of the lowest housing prices in the United States, and your dollar will stretch further here than almost anywhere else in the country.

And there’s plenty here to amuse and entertain you, from our legendary music and arts to our stunning scenery to the endless options for outdoor recreation.

Tennessee’s music and arts pedigree is unlike any other. After all, our state is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and country music, the home of the blues and the starting point of soul. Music is only the beginning. Tennessee is the new hub of creative innovation, technology and performing arts—a playground for big names and even bigger ideas. Our state is where classic meets cutting edge.

Tennessee is legendary for breathtaking landscapes, from lush forests and crystal-clear rivers to rolling hills and awe-inspiring mountain vistas. People come from all over the world to take advantage of our state’s abundant resources for fishing, hiking, boating, hunting, golfing, cycling, horseback riding, rock climbing and more.

Since we appreciate the value of loyalty and the thrill of the game, allegiance to our favorite sports teams runs deep. Tennesseans show their colors at stadiums, racetracks, arenas and ballparks across the state. There’s no shortage of professional and collegiate teams to cheer on.

Quick Facts

11.4%

Below the cost of living national average

20.7%

Below national average for housing costs

#1

Lowest State Debt Per Capita In the Country

130+

State parks and natural areas

#1

Most visited national park in the nation

30

National historic landmarks

12

Of the state’s colleges and universities compete on the NCAA Division 1 level

CNBC NAMED TENNESSEE AS THE STATE WITH THE FIFTH LOWEST COST OF LIVING IN THE NATION.

The State of the Arts

Tennessee’s thriving arts and entertainment community offers a feast for the senses and the soul. The Volunteer State is home to nine annual film festivals, a host of dance companies and dozens of theater troupes. Our museums showcase stunning works in every medium and from many cultures, from the paintings of the Old Masters to avant-garde photography.

Tennessee Theatre

Grand Ole Opry

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

Country Music Awards

Stax Records

Sports

There’s no shortage of sports to enjoy in Tennessee. We’ve got the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, NASCAR and the PGA. 12 of our state’s colleges and universities compete on the NCAA Division 1 level.

NBA
Memphis Grizzlies

College Football
University of Tennessee

PGA
St. Jude Classic

NASCAR
Brisol Motor Speedway

NFL
Tennessee Titans

The Outdoors

People come from all over the world to take advantage of our state’s abundant resources for fishing, hiking, boating, hunting, golfing, cycling, horseback riding, rock climbing and more.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

300+ Golf Courses

More than 141 State Parks and Natural Areas

13 National Historic Landmarks

We’ve known for 30 years that Middle Tennessee is a great place to do business. Middle Tennessee offers the business environment, skilled workforce and quality of life to support our growth.

- Wayne T. Smith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Systems, Inc.

State of the Arts
Tennessee’s thriving arts and entertainment community offers a feast for the senses and the soul. The Volunteer State is home to nine annual film festivals, a host of dance companies and dozens of theater troupes. Our museums showcase stunning works in every medium and from many cultures, from the paintings of the Old Masters to avant-garde photography.

World-renowned attractions include:
- Elvis Presley’s Graceland
- Sun Studio
- Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music
- Grand Ole Opry
- Ryman Auditorium
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Schermerhorn Symphony Center
- Brooks Museum of Art
- Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art
- Frist Center for the Visual Arts
- The Parthenon
- Hunter Museum of Art
- Knoxville Museum of Art
- International Storytelling Center
Power Play
Take a breather in the great outdoors we’re so famous for. Take to the water or the skies, wander a mountain trail or explore historic sites.

Our outdoor and historic areas include:
- 11 national parks, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- 13 national natural landmarks
- 30 national historic landmarks
- More than 141 state parks and natural areas
- 300+ golf courses
For sports fans, there’s no shortage of professional and collegiate teams to cheer on, including:
- NBA: Memphis Grizzlies
- NFL: Tennessee Titans
- NHL: Nashville Predators
- MLS: Nashville SC
- NASCAR: Bristol Motor Speedway
- PGA: World Golf Championship-FedEx St. Jude Invitational
- 12 of the state’s colleges and universities compete on the NCAA Division 1 level
- 4 minor league and rookie baseball teams across the state

Cost of Living

Calculate your cost of living

C2ER’s Cost of Living Index ranked Tennessee eighth for lowest cost of living in the nation for 2020.

Urban Area	All Index Items (100%)	Grocery Items (14.16%)	Housing (27.87%)	Utilities (9.30%)	Transportation (8.87%)	Healthcare(4.69%)	Misc Goods & Services (35.11%)
Chattanooga	93.5	100.6	92.3	91.6	89.2	94.4	93.2
Cleveland	85.7	90.1	77.6	88.5	84.0	92.8	89.1
Jackson-Madison County	83.6	87.5	67.3	96.0	88.5	82.0	90.6
Johnson City	97.6	94.6	97.3	91.7	85.6	87.5	105.0
Kingsport	92.7	95.9	91.5	84.2	81.2	91.3	97.8
Knoxville	83.3	86.0	68.5	94.3	86.8	92.1	88.9
Memphis	84.9	88.7	74.1	89.2	85.6	80.9	91.2
Morristown	87.4	95.8	70.7	101.9	82.5	96.0	93.6
Columbia-Maury County	92.1	95.4	80.5	90.6	90.5	88.3	101.2
Nashville-Murfreesboro	96.6	100.2	92.3	92.7	94.6	95.3	100.2

Climate

Tennessee enjoys a generally mild climate, providing favorable conditions for taking advantage of the state’s abundant outdoor environment as well as working and living with a minimum number of weather-related disruptions.

Monthly Weather Averages

	Memphis	Nashville	Chattanooga	Knoxville	Jackson	Johnson City
January	48/30	47/28	50/31	47/30	47/28	45/25
February	53/34	52/32	55/34	52/33	52/31	50/28
March	62/42	61/39	64/41	61/40	62/40	59/34
April	71/51	71/48	73/48	71/48	72/49	68/42
May	80/61	78/57	80/57	78/57	80/50	76/51
June	88/69	86/65	87/66	85/65	87/67	83/60
July	91/73	89/70	90/70	88/69	91/70	86/64
August	90/71	89/68	90/69	87/68	91/69	85/63
September	84/63	82/61	83/62	81/62	84/61	79/55
October	74/51	72/49	73/50	71/50	74/49	69/44
November	62/42	60/39	62/40	60/41	62/39	59/35
December	51/33	50/31	52/33	50/34	51/31	48/28

COMMUNITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

We know that economic development doesn’t start with board meetings and blueprints—it starts with thoughtful community development. Tennessee continually invests in programs to ensure that our communities are among the best places in the world to live and work. We support rural communities to the resources they need, and see our towns and cities through downtown revitalization and management efforts.

Our community and rural development programs include:

ThreeStar is designed to strengthen economic development, ensure responsible fiscal management, and assist with public safety, health and education efforts at a local level.

Select Tennessee helps communities prepare sites for investment and job creation, offering reduced risk and shortened timelines for development.

Tennessee Main Street and its affiliated Tennessee Downtowns program help communities with downtown revitalization and management strategies based on the National Main Street Center model.

National Flood Insurance Program provides technical assistance and coordination activities for sound floodplain management.

Tennessee’s vibrant cities and towns provide a quality of life that is second to none, so you can live and work in a place you’ll be proud to call home.

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Read up on all the details of the Quality of Life of Tennessee.

Jamie Stitt

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

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