RANK #562 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 33 TN · POP 494,148
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Knox County, Tennessee, stands out for its connection to the Great Smoky Mountains and its urban wilderness, offering over 60 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and paddling within the city of Knoxville. The county seat, Knoxville, sits at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee, where the Holston and French Broad rivers converge to form the Tennessee River. Commuting within Knox County is primarily car-dependent, though Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) provides bus and trolley services within the city and to the university area. The community offers a blend of urban amenities and access to natural scenery.
Life in Knox County balances urban living with outdoor access, appealing to families and outdoor enthusiasts. The public school system, Knox County Schools, serves approximately 60,000 students and offers a range of options including traditional, magnet, and career/technical schools. The local economy has experienced growth, particularly since 2021, with major investment flowing into commercial and residential development, as well as energy-related sectors. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, also contributes significantly to the local economy and cultural landscape.
Knox County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.3% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +3.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Knox County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
KUB/TVA/Origis Energy Solar Investment (Knoxville's Share)
Knoxville Utilities Board, Tennessee Valley Authority, Origis Energy
|
$125M | Under Construction |
|
Livano Knoxville Apartments
Capital Square / LIV Development
|
$116M | Planned |
|
Advance Knox Transportation Infrastructure Improvements
Knox County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Knox County scores 43/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#562). Median household income is $74,222 and job growth is running at +0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Knox County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $320,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,261/month on average.
Knox County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.9%). Home values shifted +1.3% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.98% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Knox County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.