5 Small Towns in Tennessee to Put Down Roots In

The big three cities in Tennessee are Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville, but that does not mean there are not plenty of other great cities to check out if you want to live in the state. The cost of living, on average, is lower than most of the country and there is no state income tax. If you are looking for a place to raise a family and not get caught up in the hectic life of a major metropolitan area, you can't do much better than Tennessee. Here are five small towns that are just the right size for settling down in.

1. Franklin

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Although it is considered a part of the Nashville Metropolitan Area, Franklin is still an incorporated city with its own city government. With a population of 68,000, it is by no means the smallest city in the state, but it is still small enough to not feel like a bustling urban area.

Franklin is popular among the wealthier people in the state, which means the housing prices there can be a little high. The median house or condo value in the city is around $315,000, which is over double the median value for the rest of the state. However, you get what you pay for, as Franklin offers you the ability to get plenty of house for your money, and the value has been steadily climbing over the past five years.

The crime rate for the area is significantly lower than the rest of the country, making it a very safe community to live in. Plus, the commute to Nashville is only around a half hour to 45 minutes, meaning that you can still work outside of the city while still enjoying the suburban lifestyle afforded in Franklin.

2. Arlington

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Located just a few miles northeast of Memphis, Arlington is a great community of about 12,000 people. What makes it an amazing place is the incredibly high median household income. While the state enjoys a median household income of around $44,297, Arlington sits at $93,644. What makes this even better is that the average home value is only $204,000, meaning you can get a great house at a good price while still making more than most of the rest of the state.

Real Estate value has been pretty stable over the last five years, which means it is a little stagnant, However, this is mainly due to a lot of people planting down roots and not moving.

This is a great city for raising kids, since 87 percent of the households are families. The residents are well-educated and crime is pretty low, especially compared to Memphis.

3. Nolensville

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Nolensville is a city that has managed to be almost completely immune to the economic downturn of the late 2000s, and even today it continues to be a great place for growing your personal wealth. Even when the rest of the country was suffering from unemployment as high as 11 percent,  Nolensville never climbed above 7.6 percent. Housing has grown quite substantially after the market crash, and continues to grow into the New Year, with the median value sitting at $282,000 and climbing.

The city also boasts one of the youngest populations in the state, with the median age being only 32.8 years old. Granted, this is out of a population of 6200 people, but that is six years younger than the state average. Also, this town attracts high paid individuals, with the median income sitting in the six figure range.

The majority of the households are young professionals with children, making it a popular place to raise a family. The city has several different activities for the kids, including youth sports.

If you need to get to Nashville from here, you can simply take the Nolensville Pike directly into the city. The commute takes around an hour.

4. Greeneville

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If you are looking for the highest level of education for your children in the state, look no further than Greeneville. It's school system has around 2800 students in it and is ranked the highest in the state. The city has a solid budget, spending around $9,200 on each student. The graduation rate is a staggering 97 percent and they have a 0 percent dropout rate. The classrooms are small and efficient, with a 14:1 teacher rate.

It is located halfway between Nashville and Knoxville, in the Northern part of the state. It currently has a population of around 15,000. The median household income is only $31,000, which is fairly low compared to the rest of the state. However, buying a home here is super affordable with a median house value of $121,000.

This is a great town if you are looking for a true small Southern town experience. You are not going to get rich here, since you are too far away from the two major metropolitan areas of Knoxville and Nashville, but you will be able to raise some incredibly educated kids.

5. Jonesborough

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If you are looking for a place with historical roots, Jonesborough is the oldest city in the entire state. It originated in 1779, which is 17 years before the state was even founded. The city is so old, that it was originally a part of the Carolinas.

Jonesborough isn't just about history, though. It is actually a pretty nice place to live. It has a population of a little over 5000 people. The median household income is around $45,000, which is just a little above the state median. The median house value is $149,000, which is extremely affordable with that level of income. And the market has been on a steady rise for the last five years, making it a good time to get in on the ground floor before the market gets too expensive.

Another great part of this city is its location. It is halfway between Knoxville, Tennessee and Charlotte, North Carolina. It is also very close to the Cherokee National Forrest, which stretches out across several states. It is a natural wonder that gives this small town an amazing backdrop, especially during the fall.