By Jason & Ivette FieldsFarragut: everything polished and close.
≈ $750KThe highest price on the list, but Farragut has no town property tax. Inside Knoxville city limits you pay two bills, city and county. In Farragut, one. You pay more for the house and less every year after.
Beautiful neighborhoods, the lake down the road, more restaurants than you can choose from. Parkwest and Turkey Creek Medical Center are a short drive.
Our tip. Most Farragut homes have two floors. Filter your search for “primary bedroom on main.” It cuts the list to homes you’ll still love at 85.
Maryville: small town, nothing missing.
≈ $450KIt’s where we chose to live. About half the price of Farragut. Blount Memorial is right in town, and McGhee Tyson Airport is 10 to 15 minutes away.
That airport matters more than you think. When your grandkids are 800 miles away, you fly out in the morning and you’re hugging them by lunch. Then it’s coffee on the porch, a walkable downtown, a greenway, and the Smokies about 30 minutes away.
Our tip. Single-level homes in Maryville sell fast. Get pre-approved before you visit, so you can say yes the same day.
Lenoir City: life on the water.
≈ $490KLoudon County is the fastest-growing county around Knoxville, up about 16% since 2020. Property tax runs lower than Maryville or Oak Ridge, and Fort Loudoun Medical Center is in town.
Coffee on the dock, sunset over the lake, friends who pull up by boat. “Someday I’ll live on the water” becomes a regular Tuesday.
Our tip. Before you offer near the lake, look up the flood map for that address on FEMA’s website. It’s free. Regular homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
Oak Ridge: single-level homes.
≈ $400KMethodist Medical Center is in town, and Oak Ridge has something rare around Knoxville: lots of single-level ranch homes.
During World War II it was a secret city, built for the Manhattan Project. That curiosity is still there: museums, miles of trails, and a quiet lake where the loudest thing in the morning is a rowing team.
Our tip. Older homes are often built better, but ask the age of the roof and the HVAC. If both are near the end, that’s about $20,000 you can negotiate before you sign.
Seymour: the value.
≈ $390KOne of the most affordable places on the list. On the Sevier County side, property taxes are the lowest we cover. If you’re 65 or older you may qualify for property tax relief. It isn’t automatic: apply through the county trustee.
More land, more quiet. Room for a garden, a workshop, or that RV. Hospitals are about 15 to 25 minutes away, and Dollywood is about 20, so the grandkids will visit.
Our tip. Many Seymour homes sit on bigger lots without city sewer. Ask if there’s a septic system, and get it inspected. A few hundred dollars can save thousands.
Townsend: the view.
$300K–$1M+The peaceful side of the Smokies. Small cabins in the $300,000s to mountain homes well over a million. A river runs through town, and Cades Cove is about 30 minutes up the road.
The nearest hospitals are 25 to 30 minutes away. For a lot of people, that’s a small trade for this view. That’s why we always ask first: how close do you want to be?
Our tip. Fall for a mountain home? Look for a paved road and a gentle driveway. In January, a steep gravel drive turns a 5-minute errand into the worst thing about the home.
