countyscore
41.1
County Score
Property Tax 91.4Water Quality 86Income & Jobs 71.7

County Report Card

About Knox County, Tennessee

Struggling Against National Averages

Knox County's composite score of 40.8 falls significantly below the national median of 50.0. High costs and urban risks drag down its overall national standing.

Well Below Tennessee Norms

Knox County trails the Tennessee average of 51.3 by over ten points. Despite being a major hub, its score reflects the pressures of density and rising living expenses.

High Incomes and Strong Utilities

The county leads the region with a 70.6 income score and a median household income of $71,662. It also maintains excellent water quality with a score of 86.0.

High Risk and Low Safety

Safety (11.3) and environmental risk (7.9) are major concerns for the county. Urban density contributes to these lower scores, alongside a cost score of just 20.4.

Built for High-Earning Professionals

This county suits career-focused individuals who value high salaries and urban amenities over quiet or low costs. It is a trade-off where economic opportunity comes at the price of safety and affordability.

2040608010091.419.811.350.234.971.77.98665.9Tax91.4Cost19.8Safety11.3Health50.2Schools34.9Income71.7Risk7.9Water86Weather65.941.1/100
This county
National avg
3 above average4 below average

Knox County DNA

Foverall

How Knox County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Knox County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Property Tax (91.4/100) but notably weak in Safety (11.3/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
91.4+39.400000000000006
Cost
19.8-28.2
Safety
11.3-43.7
Health
50.2
Schools
34.9-19.1
Income
71.7+20.700000000000003
Risk
7.9-39.1
Water
86+28
Weather
65.9+9.900000000000006
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Compare mortgage rates in Knox County

Whether buying or refinancing in Knox County, compare rates from top lenders to find the best deal.

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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$320,900

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$1,261/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$320,900/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$50,440/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum4.3x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $74,222/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

19.5

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Nearby counties

Anderson County
Tennessee
46
Blount County
Tennessee
53.7
Union County
Tennessee
54.8
Jefferson County
Tennessee
54.9
Loudon County
Tennessee
54.4
Sevier County
Tennessee
46.5
Grainger County
Tennessee
60.5
Campbell County
Tennessee
51.5

Deep Dives

Knox County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Knox County

via TaxByCounty

Knox County's taxes are below average

Knox County's 0.476% effective tax rate falls in the bottom 20% nationally, well below the 0.71% national median. Despite higher property values, the median annual tax of $1,332 remains just half the national median of $2,690.

Slightly below Tennessee average

Knox County's 0.476% rate runs slightly below Tennessee's 0.511% state average, positioning it in the lower-tax half of the state's 95 counties. The median tax of $1,332 exceeds the state average of $1,016 due to higher median home values of $279,700.

Higher values, lower rates than neighbors

Knox County's median home value of $279,700 is substantially higher than rural neighbors like Jackson County ($135,200) and Houston County ($150,100), yet its 0.476% rate beats most regional counties. Only Jefferson County (0.471%) and Johnson County (0.384%) tax at lower effective rates.

What your $279,700 home costs

Knox County homeowners with the median-valued property pay approximately $1,332 annually in property taxes. With mortgage and insurance considerations, the total climbs to around $1,364 per year.

Knoxville-area homeowners should appeal

Knox County's rapid growth has led to numerous property reassessments. A free appeal with the assessor can challenge inflated valuations and potentially reduce your annual tax bill substantially.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Knox County

via IncomeByCounty

Knox nears national income levels

Knox County's median household income of $71,662 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by just 4.1%, positioning it among Tennessee's highest-performing counties. This reflects Knoxville's role as a regional economic and educational hub.

Tennessee's income leader by far

At $71,662, Knox County ranks as the highest-income county in Tennessee, 21.5% above the state average of $58,994. Per capita income of $41,957 exceeds the state average by 33.3%, reflecting higher education and professional employment.

Significantly outearns rural counterparts

Knox County's $71,662 far surpasses all regional rural counties: Jefferson ($63,084), Humphreys ($59,333), Hickman ($57,223), and Houston ($54,475). The gap reflects urban concentration, university employment, and regional corporate headquarters.

Housing still strains budgets

Despite higher incomes, Knox's 19.8% rent-to-income ratio suggests housing costs consume nearly one-fifth of household earnings. The median home value of $279,700 means homeownership requires substantial down payments and mortgages.

Maximize professional wealth-building tools

Knox County's higher-income households should take full advantage of employer retirement plans, HSAs, and investment accounts. Working with a fiduciary financial advisor to optimize tax strategies and diversify assets can substantially amplify long-term wealth creation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Knox County

via CrimeByCounty

Urban Challenges in Knox County

Knox County faces more challenges with a safety score of 95.8. Its total crime rate of 2,662.8 per 100,000 exceeds the national average of 2,385.5.

Safety Below the State Average

The county sits below the Tennessee average safety score of 97.2. As an urban hub, it experiences higher crime frequency than the state's more rural districts.

Knoxville's Regional Impact

Knox County has a crime rate nearly double that of neighboring Jefferson County. The higher density of Knoxville contributes to these elevated incident counts.

Property and Violent Crime Data

Property crimes reach 2,186.1 per 100,000, while violent crime sits at 476.7. Residents should be aware that both categories are higher here than national benchmarks.

Priority for Urban Security

Investing in a comprehensive home security system is recommended for urban residents. Joining a local neighborhood watch program helps coordinate safety efforts with police.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Knox County

via WeatherByCounty

Balanced four-season valley climate

Knox County averages 57.9°F annually, sitting roughly 4 degrees above the national median temperature. It experiences a typical humid subtropical climate with warm summers and manageable winters.

Mirroring the Tennessee state average

At 57.9°F, Knox County almost perfectly aligns with the Tennessee state average of 58.1°F. It serves as a climate benchmark for the eastern part of the state, neither extremely hot nor cold.

Standard rainfall for the region

The county receives 55.8 inches of annual precipitation, nearly identical to the state average of 55.9 inches. It maintains a warmer profile than the nearby Smoky Mountain counties but stays cooler than the Mississippi River valley.

Sunny summers and crisp winters

July brings an average of 77.2°F with 36 days of extreme heat reaching 90°F or higher. Winters are temperate, with a January average of 37.1°F and infrequent heavy snow events.

Versatile home climate control

Residents should prepare for high humidity in the summer and occasional freezing rain in the winter. While snowfall data is limited, the 39.5°F winter average suggests that winter weather mostly results in rain or slush.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Knox County

via SoilByCounty

Weathered Ultisols of the Valley

Knox County’s soil is classified as Ultisols, which are older, highly weathered soils. The average pH is 5.12, which is more acidic than the Tennessee state average of 5.35 and much lower than the national median of 6.5.

Knox County’s silt loam mix

The soil is a silt loam texture featuring 43.0% silt, 29.2% sand, and 20.9% clay. This combination provides a relatively stable surface for development while remaining workable for agricultural use.

Lower nutrient and water levels

Organic matter is relatively low at 1.42%, trailing the state average of 2.44%. The available water capacity of 0.152 in/in is also below the state average of 0.171, suggesting a need for supplemental irrigation during dry spells.

Well-drained but low infiltration

The soil is well-drained but belongs to hydrologic group D, which indicates very low infiltration rates when thoroughly wet. This can lead to high runoff during heavy storms, a critical factor for urban planning in Knoxville.

Urban gardening in Zone 7b

Zone 7b supports everything from kale to tomatoes. To compensate for the low organic matter, incorporate plenty of compost and use raised beds to manage the soil's drainage characteristics.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Knox County

via LawnByCounty

Challenging Landscapes in Knox

Knox County faces tougher conditions with a lawn difficulty score of 43.5, falling below the national median of 50.0. Maintaining a lush lawn here requires more intervention than the Tennessee average of 48.0 suggests.

High Humidity and Rainfall

The county sees 36 extreme heat days annually, matching the state average. Precipitation of 55.8 inches is slightly high, which can occasionally lead to fungal issues in the humid Tennessee summers.

Excellent Drainage, Low pH

Well-drained silt loam provides an excellent physical environment for root growth, but the pH of 5.12 is quite acidic. Regular soil testing and lime applications are required to reach the 6.0-7.0 sweet spot for grass.

Smart Watering During Dry Spells

After 18 weeks of drought last year, the entire county is currently listed as abnormally dry. Focus on deep watering early in the morning to minimize evaporation and help turf survive the peak summer heat.

Establishment Timing in Zone 7b

Hybrid Bermuda or Zoysia are strong performers in Zone 7b, particularly during the hot summer months. The best growing window falls between the last spring frost on April 11 and the first fall frost on October 28.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Knox County's county score?
Knox County, Tennessee has a composite county score of 41.1 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Knox County rank among counties in Tennessee?
Knox County ranks #88 among all counties in Tennessee on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Knox County, Tennessee?
The median annual property tax in Knox County is $1,367, with an effective tax rate of 0.43%. This earns Knox County a tax score of 91.4/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Knox County?
The median household income in Knox County, Tennessee is $74,222 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Knox County earns an income score of 71.7/100 on CountyScore.
Is Knox County, Tennessee a good place to live?
Knox County scores 41.1/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #88 in Tennessee. The best way to evaluate Knox County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Knox County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, NOAA — informational only.