What’s the best part of Knoxville?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Knoxville are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Knoxville neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Tennessee and Knoxville is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Knoxville for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Colonial Village looks to be the best Knoxville neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Knoxville that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Knoxville.
For more Tennessee reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Tennessee
- Cheapest Places To Live In Tennessee
- Most Dangerous Cities In Tennessee
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Knoxville
1. Colonial Village
Population: 4,814
Median Home Value: $121,779 (16th best)
Median Income: $42,783 (11th best)
More on Colonial Village: Real Estate
2. Lonsdale
Population: 13,278
Median Home Value: $91,135 (24th best)
Median Income: $23,168 (3best)
More on Lonsdale: Real Estate
3. Inskip
Population: 20,491
Median Home Value: $119,126 (18th best)
Median Income: $39,540 (13th best)
More on Inskip: Real Estate
4. Marble City
Population: 4,216
Median Home Value: $255,731 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $43,193 (Tenth best)
More on Marble City: Real Estate
5. Western Heights
Population: 2,801
Median Home Value: $61,111 (33rd best)
Median Income: $20,505 (33rd best)
More on Western Heights: Real Estate
Population: 3,536
Median Home Value: $51,011 (34th best)
Median Income: $18,258 (34th best)
More on Mechanicsville: Data | Real Estate
7. Norwood
Population: 29,798
Median Home Value: $103,606 (22nd best)
Median Income: $44,660 (Ninth best)
More on Norwood: Real Estate
8. Fountain City
Population: 26,120
Median Home Value: $140,310 (15th best)
Median Income: $45,135 (Eighth best)
More on Fountain City: Real Estate
9. Five Points
Population: 2,647
Median Home Value: $307,891 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $25,624 (26th best)
More on Five Points: Real Estate
Population: 4,131
Median Home Value: $279,807 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $24,933 (29th best)
More on Parkridge: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Knoxville, TN Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Knoxville, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 34 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Knoxville.” We’re lookin’ at you, Colonial Village.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Knoxville, Tennessee has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Knoxville.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Knoxville
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Knoxville where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Knoxville are Colonial Village, Lonsdale, Inskip, Marble City, Western Heights, Mechanicsville, Norwood, Fountain City, Five Points, and Parkridge.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Knoxville aren’t all good. Old North Knoxville takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Knoxville.
The worst neighborhoods in Knoxville are Old North Knoxville, Holston Hills, Halls Crossroads, Forest Heights, and Bearden.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Tennessee reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Knoxville For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonial Village | 4,814 | $121,779 | $42,783 |
| 2 | Lonsdale | 13,278 | $91,135 | $23,168 |
| 3 | Inskip | 20,491 | $119,126 | $39,540 |
| 4 | Marble City | 4,216 | $255,731 | $43,193 |
| 5 | Western Heights | 2,801 | $61,111 | $20,505 |
| 6 | Mechanicsville | 3,536 | $51,011 | $18,258 |
| 7 | Norwood | 29,798 | $103,606 | $44,660 |
| 8 | Fountain City | 26,120 | $140,310 | $45,135 |
| 9 | Five Points | 2,647 | $307,891 | $25,624 |
| 10 | Parkridge | 4,131 | $279,807 | $24,933 |
| 11 | Old Sevier | 1,075 | $71,158 | $26,871 |
| 12 | South Knoxville | 28,682 | $118,327 | $32,785 |
| 13 | Burlington | 6,187 | $83,786 | $30,139 |
| 14 | Lake Forest | 5,911 | $158,771 | $35,516 |
| 15 | West Knoxville | 45,979 | $238,722 | $52,085 |
| 16 | Park City | 3,603 | $165,209 | $25,643 |
| 17 | North Knoxville | 42,454 | $112,359 | $36,308 |
| 18 | Whittle Springs | 8,833 | $104,175 | $34,082 |
| 19 | Southknoxville | 8,686 | $86,621 | $27,681 |
| 20 | East Knoxville | 20,794 | $193,506 | $36,682 |
| 21 | Lyons View | 759 | $454,418 | $87,431 |
| 22 | Morningside | 1,560 | $457,125 | $26,608 |
| 23 | Downtown | 3,224 | $68,199 | $25,421 |
| 24 | Old City | 2,887 | $68,199 | $25,421 |
| 25 | Deane Hill | 6,908 | $241,037 | $72,576 |
| 26 | North Hills | 2,522 | $98,267 | $28,797 |
| 27 | Lakemoor Hills | 1,934 | $454,418 | $74,274 |
| 28 | Beaumont | 818 | $64,378 | $23,489 |
| 29 | Rocky Hill | 2,135 | $187,957 | $78,104 |
| 30 | Bearden | 4,215 | $255,731 | $87,724 |
| 31 | Forest Heights | 957 | $255,731 | $55,661 |
| 32 | Halls Crossroads | 566 | $121,249 | $40,770 |
| 33 | Holston Hills | 4,628 | $90,304 | $39,073 |
| 34 | Old North Knoxville | 868 | $77,045 | $21,228 |