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.
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.
World-renowned attractions include:
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:
For sports fans, there’s no shortage of professional and collegiate teams to cheer on, including:
Cost of living:C2ER's Cost of Living Index ranked Tennessee fifth for lowest cost of living in the nation.
Q2 2017 Annual Cost of Living Index
| Urban Area | All Index Items (100%) | Grocery Items (13.47%) | Housing (28.15%) | Utilities (9.90%) | Transportation (8.99%) | Healthcare (4.57%) |
Misc Goods & Services (34.92%) |
| Chattanooga | 97.0 | 93.3 | 101.5 | 94.4 | 91.3 | 104.6 | 96.1 |
| Cleveland | 86.6 | 105.0 | 72.9 | 92.6 | 87.0 | 85.3 | 89.0 |
| Cookeville | 87.9 | 85.9 | 68.5 | 100.1 | 86.4 | 89.9 | 100.9 |
| Jackson-Madison County | 92.0 | 79.7 | 73.0 | 77.4 | 97.1 | 96.5 | 114.4 |
| Knoxville | 82.2 | 86.3 | 71.8 | 90.0 | 83.8 | 87.6 | 85.7 |
| Memphis | 83.3 | 91.3 | 65.8 | 103.7 | 89.1 | 85.1 | 86.8 |
| Morristown | 90.1 | 97.6 | 70.8 | 108.5 | 85.3 | 87.1 | 99.3 |
| Columbia-Maury County | 92.1 | 95.7 | 89.5 | 91.5 | 85.1 | 81.4 | 96.1 |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro | 96.7 | 97.3 | 91.1 | 90.4 | 100.3 | 81.9 | 103.9 |
Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index (Annual 2017)
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
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
|
Chattanooga |
||||||||||||
|
High (°F) |
50 |
55 |
64 |
73 |
80 |
87 |
90 |
90 |
83 |
73 |
62 |
52 |
|
Low (°F) |
31 |
34 |
41 |
48 |
57 |
66 |
70 |
69 |
62 |
50 |
40 |
33 |
|
Precipitation (") |
4.92 |
4.84 |
4.96 |
3.98 |
4.09 |
4.06 |
4.92 |
3.46 |
4.06 |
3.27 |
5.00 |
4.88 |
|
Knoxville |
||||||||||||
|
High (°F) |
47 |
52 |
61 |
71 |
78 |
85 |
88 |
87 |
81 |
71 |
60 |
50 |
|
Low (°F) |
30 |
33 |
40 |
48 |
57 |
65 |
69 |
68 |
62 |
49 |
41 |
34 |
|
Precipitation (") |
4.76 |
3.90 |
5.04 |
3.5 |
4.33 |
4.76 |
3.98 |
3.39 |
3.03 |
3.03 |
4.09 |
4.37 |
|
Memphis |
||||||||||||
|
High (°F) |
50 |
55 |
64 |
73 |
81 |
89 |
92 |
91 |
85 |
74 |
63 |
52 |
|
Low (°F) |
33 |
36 |
44 |
53 |
62 |
70 |
74 |
73 |
65 |
54 |
44 |
35 |
|
Precipitation (") |
3.98 |
4.41 |
5.16 |
5.51 |
5.24 |
3.62 |
4.61 |
2.87 |
3.07 |
3.98 |
5.47 |
5.75 |
|
Nashville |
||||||||||||
|
High (°F) |
47 |
52 |
61 |
71 |
78 |
86 |
89 |
89 |
82 |
72 |
60 |
49 |
|
Low (°F) |
28 |
32 |
39 |
47 |
57 |
65 |
69 |
68 |
61 |
49 |
39 |
31 |
|
Precipitation (") |
3.74 |
3.94 |
4.09 |
4.02 |
5.51 |
4.13 |
3.62 |
3.19 |
3.43 |
3.03 |
4.29 |
4.25 |
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.
130+
state parks and natural areas.
national historic landmarks.
most visited national park in the nation.
12
of the state’s colleges and universities compete on the NCAA Division 1 level.
