Your guide to finding a Knoxville home or apartment in the perfect neighborhood | Knoxpedia

Knox News Staff
Updated ·5 min read

Are you looking to buy a home in Knoxville or find which neighborhood is best for you? You're in the right place − this section of Knoxpedia has all you need to know to about housing and Knoxville neighborhoods.

Below, you'll find answers to some of the most popular questions asked by those moving to town or new to living in Knoxville. Once you're finished, you can check out the full Knoxpedia guide and all its categories.

Don't see your questions included? Send us an email!

Where are the most affordable Knoxville apartments?

If you're looking for a single-bedroom apartment, chances are you're not going to find a place under $1,000 a month, and the going rate is between $1,250 and $1,560 a month as of March 2024, according to Rent.com. If you do, it's likely to be farther from downtown or on campus.

If you want to save money, it'll be cheaper to find roommates and a multibedroom apartment.

Less expensive apartments tend to be class B or C, meaning they are older buildings with older appliances. They're also more likely to be in the Fort Sanders, John Sevier and North Knoxville neighborhoods.

What's the best way to find an apartment in Knoxville?

Looking for and securing an apartment can be difficult, as they are in high demand no matter the price. You'll probably want to cast a wide net, and your options expand if you don't have pets or specific preferences about where to live.

Websites like Apartments.com and Facebook Marketplace are great places to start.

Should I rent or buy a home?

That decision likely comes down to what you need from your living space and what you can afford. Many homes in Knoxville and Knox County are larger, three-bedroom, two-bath homes, so buying would make more sense if you need space. If you need a smaller place like an apartment, look into renting.

However, money is a big factor for many. And that means renting is probably the way to go.

As of February 2024, the median Knoxville home price is about $350,000, which would cost owners about $2,200 a month, according to data from East Tennessee Realtors. To afford a home at the median price, households would need to earn about $105,000 annually.

The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment as of March 2024 is about $1,560 a month, according to Rent.com. The average monthly rate for all types combined (studios to four-bedroom units) is expected to be about $1,500 in 2024.

The most affordable homes are in East Knoxville, North Knoxville and Norwood/Inskip.

What are the cheapest neighborhoods in Knoxville?

Home and rental prices continue to rise in Knoxville, but there are affordable options.

If you're on a tight budget, North Knoxville (the 37917 ZIP code) will be your most affordable area to rent and buy. The Norwood and Inskip area (37912 ZIP code) will be an affordable place to live.

As of the first quarter of 2024, the cheapest apartment rents were in:

  • North Knoxville: $848/month

  • Fort Sanders: $1,083/month

  • Norwood/Inskip: $1,225/month

As of the first quarter of 2024, the cheapest rents for single-family homes were in:

  • Bearden: $1,277/month

  • Cedar Bluff: $1,656/month

  • Fort Sanders: $1,656/month

As of the first quarter of 2024, the areas with the lowest median home sale prices were:

  • East Knoxville: $260,000

  • North Knoxville: $260,000

  • West Knoxville: $293,750

Downtown and West Knox County are usually the most expensive areas.

Is my home covered by a fire department?

The Knoxville Fire Department provides 24/7 professional fire protection and rescue services to more than 100 square miles within the city limits. The department maintains 42 firefighting and rescue units among its 19 fire stations.

For Knox County homeowners outside city limits, most residents will need to become members of Rural Metro Fire, a private fire department with 18 fire stations. Several volunteer fire departments serve other parts of the county.

Karns Fire Department serves Northwest Knox County with fire stations in Ball Camp, Hardin Valley, Karns and Solway. The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department has six stations and covers some of the southern portion of the county.

Have more questions about housing and Knoxville neighborhoods?

Let this Knox News reporter help you!

Silas Sloan is the growth and development reporter at Knox News and covers business development, real estate and growth in East Tennessee. He was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon in 2021. Email: silas.sloan@knoxnews.com.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville homes, apartments and neighborhoods: What to know