Ask any Tennesean where they are from and they will say either, Eastern, Middle, or Western Tennessee.
The state is divided into three distinct regions by the Tennessee River.
The state is 450 miles east to west and seems like three different states, each with its own culture and quirks.
There is something for everyone in Tennessee, from its Appalachian Mountains in the east, to the Mississippi Delta in the west.
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Pros of Living in Tennessee
1. Music
Tennessee is where country music, and rock and roll to a large extent, were born.
Bluegrass and Blues also developed in the state.
Nashville is the home of country music, and Memphis is the home of the blues.
Memphis was the home of Elvis, and many other rock and roll musicians also got their start there.
Almost anywhere you go in the state there will be live musical performances of some kind, and almost anyone you meet will have some connection to music.
2. Whiskey
Tennessee is home to the famous Jack Daniels Whiskey Distillery, where Tennessee whiskey was born.
It has a distinct taste all its own.
Today there are several small whiskey-making operations around the state.
The hills of Tennessee were once famous (or infamous) for moonshine stills, bootleggers, and revenuers chasing them.
That may or may not have less to the development of Jack Daniels whiskey, but the idea of making high-quality alcohol seems to be deeply embedded in the state.
3. Barbeque
Tennessee barbeque is known for its spicy and sweet taste.
Memphis barbeque is sweeter than most, but if you like some heat with your barbeque, you will love Tennessee barbeque.
They take it so seriously.
There is a barbeque trail in Tennessee where you can tour more than 100 miles of barbeque joints, all with their own distinct flair and taste.
In addition to the barbeque, there is a lot of traditional southern cooking that is sure to please any appetite.
4. Taxes are low
Tennessee has no income tax at all and is one of only eight states that make that claim.
The state has been business-friendly for a long time as well when it comes to taxes.
It is a great place to start a business, and taxes are low for individuals as well.
Property tax is low relative to other states, but the sales tax is a little high.
Wallet Hub ranks Tennessee second only to Alaska in low tax burden by state at just over five percent.
Property taxes are 49th out of 50 states, but it has the 11th highest sales tax.
5. Lower cost of living
The overall cost of living is 20 percent lower than the national average.
Nashville is the exception, with a cost of living similar to other large cities around the country, but the rest of the state has lower costs.
Wages are lower perhaps, with the average household income at $39,000, but the money you have goes further here.
Housing costs, with the exception of Nashville, are 30 percent below the national average.
In addition, there is a free junior college for state residents.
6. The Smokey Mountains and Fall Foilage
The Great Smokey Mountains National Park is a huge area with almost endless recreational opportunities.
The fall foliage is also exceptional, and some say it is even more beautiful than that of New England.
The Appalachian Trail goes through the state and there are many other long trails to explore.
The middle of the state has rolling hills and picturesque farms.
The west has the Mississippi River.
Outdoor opportunities are as endless as your imagination in Tennessee.
7. Pleasant weather most of the time
There are four seasons in most of the state, though the western part seems to forget spring.
In the east, there are distinct seasons.
There is some snow in the eastern Appalachian mountains area, but it is not excessive.
The winters are cold but not overly harsh.
You still might get to 50 degrees even in the dead of winter.
In the east, summers are very mild, but they can get brutal in the west.
In the eastern mountains, a summer day of 90 degrees is considered a hot day.
8. Festivals and outdoor entertainment
It seems natural, with all the music, whiskey, and nice weather, that there would be a lot of outdoor fun in Tennessee.
There is a mixture of southern hospitality and Midwestern friendliness that permeates the state
. There are countless festivals, parades, and music shows in every town.
There are festivals for all kinds of things, like apples in Jonesboro, Daffodils in Bell Buckle, and Trillims in Monteagle.
Whether you are in an obscure small town or in downtown Nashville, there is probably some outdoor fun brewing for the coming weekend.
Cons of Living in Tennessee
1. Hard to fit in
It is ironic, perhaps, with all the festivals and musical celebrations, that it can be hard to make friends and feel a part of the community.
Some of the friendliness and charm are superficial, and people tend to stick to people they know for a time.
The state is as polarized politically as any state, and maybe more in some cases.
People moving into the state remark about how long it takes to fit in, but eventually, people of all stripes are welcomed.
It just takes time for them to trust you.
2. The weather
The weather is both a positive and a negative.
It is relatively pleasant most of the time, but when it gets bad, it gets real bad.
There are damaging tornadoes, and flooding is common, particularly around the middle part of the state.
Summers can get very hot in the west around Memphis.
Humidity is very high in summer, and even 80 degrees can feel uncomfortable.
But people coming from the far eastern part of the state struggle with the far west part of the state in summer.
There are also ice storms in winter that make travel unsafe.
3. High crime in some areas
Certain areas of Memphis have a lot of violent crime, and Memphis is often in the top two or three of any list of the nation’s most dangerous cities.
The violent crime rate is 24 per 1000, the national average is 4.0 and the state average is 6.7.
Robbery and assault are far above average.
Property crime is similar in Memphis.
Memphis has a property crime rate of 57 per 1,000 and the national average is 19.
Larger cities like Nashville, Chatanooga, or Knoxville have areas that are dangerous from a crime standpoint.
There are small towns, like Camden, that have not had violent crime in about a year.
4. Lack of public transportation
Tennessee is a beautiful state, but if you want to see it, you will need a car.
There is some public transportation inside the larger cities, but basically, none once you leave those cities.
There are some buses that go across the state, as well as some regional airports, but you will need a car if you want to go to most places.
Since everyone needs a car, the roads can get crowded and traffic jams are common.
Most roads in rural areas are in good shape, however.
5. Struggling infrastructure
Tennessee is a state that is growing fast with a lot of people moving there from other places.
In larger cities like Memphis and Nashville, they are having a hard time keeping up with the needs of a fast-growing population.
You may find a lot of road construction, and construction in general, getting in the way of traffic movement in the cities as a result.
Even finding parking in cities can be a problem at times.
6. Nuclear power
You may know that Oak Ridge was a small town that had a lot to do with the making of the first atom bomb.
The state has continued its relationship with nuclear-type industries.
It now has three nuclear power plants that provide a lot of electricity.
There are many other small businesses related to nuclear energy in some way or another.
Accidents are rare, but if they do happen.
Some believe there are health issues even around those types of operations.
7. Tobacco country
Tennessee is third among the states in growing tobacco.
This means there are also a lot of tobacco users in the state.
It is a huge part of the culture.
Most people have accepted no smoking inside buildings, but you will see a lot of people smoking in public in Tennessee.
Tennessee has the fifth-highest number of smokers with 24.3 percent using tobacco products.
8. Overall, health is not great
Studies have shown that 28 percent of the state’s population is obese.
It is not a good sign that 35 percent of children are in an obese state.
Tennessee ranks in the bottom 15 on both counts.
Studies also show that about 70 percent of residents get any kind of regular exercise, which is 44th nationally among the states.
This could contribute to the life expectancy of 76 years, which is among the lowest in the nation.
Pros and Cons of Living in Tennessee – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Tennessee | Cons of Living in Tennessee |
|---|---|
| 1.Music | 1. Hard to fit in |
| 2. Whiskey | 2. The weather |
| 3. Barbeque | 3. High crime in some areas |
| 4.Taxes are low | 4. Lack of public transportation |
| 5. Lower cost of living | 5. Struggling infrastructure |
| 6. The Smokey Mountains and Fall Foilage | 6. Nuclear power |
| 7. Pleasant weather most of the time | 7. Tobacco country |
| 8. Festivals and outdoor entertainment | 8. Overall, health is not great |
Tennessee Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Tennessee Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Tennessee called the Volunteer State?
In the War of 1812, there were a tremendous number of Tennesseans volunteering for battle.
That continued in the Mexican-American War of 1848.
A lot of soldiers from Tennessee, including Davey Crockett, died at the Alamo.
There has been a strong tradition of military service since that time.
What was Tennessee's role in the Civil War?
The state was divided, with the west favoring slavery and secession, and the east favoring the Union side.
Tennessee had the lowest number of slaves of any Confederate state.
Tennessee provided more Union troops than any other Confederate state and second-most to the Confederacy.
Tennessee also was the site of the second-most number of battles during the Civil War.
Why do some people claim Memphis is the birthplace of Rock and Roll?
Elvis came from Memphis, but he was not the first.
A small recording studio, called Sun Records, owned by Sam Phillips, started the career of many rock and roll stars in the 1950s.
People like Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis, BB King, Carl Perkins, Howlin Wolfe, and more, were first recorded by Phillips.
He had many musical tricks and was one of the first to try to capture emotion more than perfection in sound.
What was the lost state of Franklin?
Before Tennessee became a state, it was part of North Carolina.
In 1784, the very eastern part of what is now Tennessee became the state of Franklin.
It lasted about four years before rejoining North Carolina.
Which presidents were from Tennessee?
Andrew Jackson, James Polk, and Andrew Johnson were presidents that were born in Tennessee.
Some overlooked cons of living in Tennessee. Great property taxes but groceries have TWO taxes on them! This is unacceptable. In addition, Tennessee has terrible healthcare and hospitals. Cumberland Medical Center has a horrible reputation and keeps people sitting in the emergency room for hours. I know a person that went there with chest pains and they kept him in the emergency room for 7 hours then sent him to UT Medical Center in Knoxville. There were numerous COVID patients sitting in the emergency room for hours – especially elderly people.
What are the best hospitals in eastern Tn?
Ut hospital, Tennova, Fort Sanders and Park west. Some have small hospitals in other countries for more serious condition they transfer you from the county to the Knox County hospitals
I live in a rural county ,with a small hospital, I don’t know the guys situation with chest pains sitting for 7 hours. If the hospital in my county can’t accept me in a reasonable amount of time, we call a knoxville county ambulance to meet us at the county line. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes, but that’s slot better than 7 hours.
I’ve lived in Tennessee for 15 years. The lack of friendliness is very true. They will act charming at first but they want nothing to do with you and they can tell if you’re from out of state. I still get people asking about my accent after all these years. I don’t get invited to anything and I stand out alone in my neighborhood. The only friends I have in my small town are other fellow out of staters who all confided to have the same experience and struggle to fit in. My friend from Georgia actually moved back to GA after trying east TN for 4 years, he said the lack of authenticity from the community was his biggest factor in leaving. Also the healthcare can be dodgy, especially the rural hospitals. You’re looking at 7+ hours to be seen and the care can be subpar, in my town we’ve had people die of perfectly preventable things a number of times. Also depending where you live, the drugs can be catastrophic in a town and you gotta lock your doors. My friend had her TV and lawnmower stolen and I’ve experienced property theft too. Someone stole my livestock one summer in the middle of the night.
I think the general crime is par as described above Memphis is well known as a crime zone well above average and lack of county, city leadership lets that continue
The health care is a serious community concern that again State legislators fail to regulate for the good of their communities A good redon to scrutinize them while voting
I agree with the person above me. I moved to midd TN eight years ago. The people are nice at first until they aren’t. At first they jokingly called me a Yankee, when actually I’m from out West. On the surface most are polite, but you’ll never break through and be within their circle. I miss my state everyday but Oregon has become nightmarish anymore. So I try and appreciate that rain is not never ending here. I relish no income taxes. And I love that Elvis lived here. Because yes there are regular folks here that knew him and can tell stories-I’ve met a few. The crime rates? Don’t even get me started.
I totally disagree with the above comments, I think these people would complain about friends wherever they live. I am involved in five different activities here and already have plenty of genuine friends, on the contrary, I find this state to be one of the friendliest we have ever lived that we have lived all around the country.