So, I'm starting my first job, post-grad, around mid-October in Knoxville. I've been in Texas the last 5 years and grew up in SE Alabama. Haven't spent much time in Tennessee, though. I'll be very near Oak Ridge National Lab.
It's looking like the biggest challenge to living in or around Knoxville is going to be housing. I'm guessing a lot of the scarcity is coming from the University of Tennessee being in its Fall semester; there are a lot of apartment complexes on Google with no availability, very few place on apps like Zillow that are sub-$1500/month range. I'm thinking of renting an AirBnb until the semester ends in November and looking again.
Everything else seems to be ideal: right-sized city, plenty of outdoor activities, potential to be a forever home. What else should I know?
Excellent roads to drive on heading south through SR68 to the Six Gap area.
(That's all I got)
I'm in Oak Ridge. The housing here is more reasonable, but Maryville, Clinton, or any outlying area should be able to accommodate you if you don't mind a commute.
Advice: live on what side of KX you work in. I 75 and I 40 stupidly run through the center of the city, and split either side. This is exactly as good an idea as it sounds. The beltway 640 does nothing. Not the worst place to be, but it is trailer trash meets big city. Prostitution, homeless, rednecks in the back of trucks, meth, etc. Keep Knoxville scruffy, indeed.
wheelsmithy (Joe-with-an-L) said:
Not the worst place to be, but it is trailer trash meets big city. Prostitution, homeless, rednecks in the back of trucks, meth, etc. Keep Knoxville scruffy, indeed.
Sounds like heaven.
I poked around with East and Southeast Knoxville but, after living in Austin, my gut said trying commute across the city would probably be a nightmare. Definitely checking out Clinton and Maryville.
Hey, I live in Knoxville. I've been here now almost 12 years. Housing is probably the biggest concern in the area. The market is less hot outside the city, but it's still quite hot in the metro area and inventory is low.
I-40 can be a mess, at times, as far as traffic, especially in West Knoxville, where I-40 and I-75 merge briefly.
Other than that, it's a great place to live. Welcome.
Not sure if your a church guy but I know a few young guys (30's? Young kids) in the area I could hook you up with - one of the guys is a really open guy to hang with. Message if that's you.
I wandered into the Tern Club when I was there and it was a cool spot.
Congrats. Probably would do well to rent a couple miles outside of "student rental" radius. I'll bet it gets more reasonable fast. I've only been there once with my older kid on a college visit but loved the city. Have a couple friends who are UT grads and they loved the city too.
I've never been to Knoxville but my wife and I really like that area and have talked about moving there for a couple years now. I've seen a few jobs listed at Oak Ridge National Labs that would fit my skillset. Beautiful area.
