2017 Best Places to Retire in TennesseeAbout this List

Chattanooga

• City in Tennessee
• 331

Former Resident: I grew up in Chattanooga, which is probably known by many around the country as home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. However, it's surrounded by mountains and there are plenty of parks and protected forest land for hiking and camping, communing with nature. Originally, it was a train hub and manufacturing town, but is making a progressive shift to clean the air and become a tech city, offering EPB's gigabit fiber internet - super fast! I love this city and once done with college, would love to move back.
Read 331 Reviews

• B+

• B-

• B+

• 174,483 Population

Knoxville

• City in Tennessee
• 367

Current Resident: I've lived in Knoxville my entire life. I love the downtown area including the Market Square, Bijou Theater, Pat Summit's Basketball Hall of Fame, Museum of Art, Main Street shops and restaurants, and the riverboat rides. I also enjoy shopping in west Knoxville at the Turkey Creek outlets, West Town Mall, and the specialty boutiques along Kingston Pike. Knoxville has a wealth of history to explore and often host popular concerts/events at the Thompson Boling Arena, Civic Coliseum and Auditorium, or on the beautiful lawn of the 1982 World's Fair Site. Nothing excites our city more that Tennessee Football at Neyland Stadium, except perhaps watching the Lady Vols play at Thompson Boling Arena! Knoxville also serves as a crossroads of I-40 and I-75 providing easy access to either main interstate. The mountain views, southern hospitality, and entertainment venues make Knoxville the place to be!
Read 367 Reviews

• B+

• B+

• B

• 183,066 Population

Murfreesboro

• City in Tennessee
• 325

Current Resident: My overall experience with the city of Murfreesboro is memorable. This is my hometown and also the hometown to Uncle Dave Macon, from the Grand Olé Opry. This town has a lovely old time feeling city square, farmers markets, great towns people and the list could go on and on. I would recommend visiting Murfreesboro to anyone who loves the suburban life and is considering starting a family. There are many school systems to choose from with tons of extra curricular activities for the kids. So come on down and see us, you just might call it home!
Read 325 Reviews

• A-

• B

• B

• 117,983 Population

Memphis

• City in Tennessee
• 633

Current Resident: Memphis, Tennessee is where home is! The schools are filled with compassionate teachers and ambitious students. The Memphis culture is excelling with innovative ideas and diverse people. Fortunately, there are affordable family owned restaurants that sells delicious eatery. There are never dull moments because Memphis has great tourism sites such as the Bass Pro Shop at the Pyramid, IKEA, Beale Street, and Mud Island. Families and friends have a wide range of activites because Shelby Farms and the Memphis Zoo holds seasonal events. Young teenagers love nights out at Incredible Pizza and The Main Event. Not to brag, but Memphis has the safest drinking water there is! Nonetheless, Memphis is a great city to call home!
Read 633 Reviews

• B

• C+

• B

• 657,167 Population

Nashville

• City in Tennessee
• 978

Current Resident: Hands down Nashville is the perfect place to live! From the nightlife to the boost in jobs Nashville has always been a place of success. Nashville prides itself on its diversity and peak in community growth over the past five to ten years. We welcome the variety of charter/public schools that gives our youth a safe place of knowledge in addition to a huge variety of family-oriented places/events to visit! While all cities have their share of crime Nashville elates with great community involvement, resources, police, and leadership to help control small to big crimes. The cost of living is ny far the best! How else do you explain more than 300 families moving here per day?! Although numbers in communities are peaking and traffic is getting heavier Nashville is expanding in more ways than one to help with its current boost and growth. Looking for a place to live I dare you to try Nashville! Tell them I sent you!
Read 978 Reviews

• A-

• C+

• B

• 634,512 Population

Clarksville

• City in Tennessee
• 326

Current Resident: The opportunities and diversity in Clarksville are astounding! I love meeting new people and experiencing life while feeling safe and in a friendly environment! The people here are incredibly impressive and make you feel like they truly want to see you enjoy life here and help you when you ask for it. Clarksville definitely has a lot going on regarding clubs, opportunities, and all around health and family life, so it can be difficult to organize all the information in one place. One thing I would like to see for Clarksville is a newly designed website where all information about such an awesome city is more easily accessible and easy to find. This is truly an amazing city and place to live and I am thankful to call this place my home.
Read 326 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• B

• 143,618 Population

Hopewell

• Town in Tennessee
• 3

Parent: An overall good place to live & work. Small town feel with a progressive city feel
Read 3 Reviews

• B

• B

• A+

• 1,922 Population

St. Joseph

• Town in Tennessee
• 1

• B-

• B+

• A+

• 986 Population

Eastview

• Town in Tennessee
• 1

• C+

• B

• A

• 885 Population

Ducktown

• Town in Tennessee
• 1

Works Here: This is a beautiful area with amazing views. It is located near historic downtown Blue Ridge, GA. Ducktown is also the home of the 1996 Whitewater Olympic games. The Ocoee River is a beautiful part of the Copper Basin area and Ducktown community.
Read 1 Reviews

• C-

• C

• A

• 411 Population

Michie

• Town in Tennessee
• 1

• C-

• C+

• A

• 622 Population

Banner Hill

• Town in Tennessee

• C

• C+

• A

• 1,529 Population

Clarksburg

• Town in Tennessee
• 4

• B

• B-

• A

• 395 Population

Saltillo

• Town in Tennessee

• B-

• C+

• A

• 557 Population

Piperton

• Suburb of Memphis, TN
• 1

Niche User: Piperton is the perfect suburban town; here you will find all of the pleasures of living in the secure, beautiful the suburbs of Memphis (unlike any other town in the area). The quaint, luxurious neighborhood are absolutely lovely and there is no other place I can see myself in.
Read 1 Reviews

• B+

• C-

• A

• 1,709 Population

Powells Crossroads

• Town in Tennessee
• 9

Nearby Resident: Powell Crossroads is a small town with some old fashion ways of life mixed with a youthful sense of young adults changing the society. A lot of churches and schools. Child friendly and Jesus loving people live in this communtiy.
Read 9 Reviews

• B

• C+

• A

• 1,359 Population

Norris

• Town in Tennessee

• A-

• B

• A

• 2,036 Population

Dyer

• Town in Tennessee
• 9

Niche User: I'm blessed. I have a roof over my head and food on my table so I cannot complain. I would probably choose to live here again because my family is here and I know everyone. When you walk up the street people know you by name. On a total different end of the spectrum, I would love to get away and start over when I finish school and get married. I would love to establish my own Christian based business as a Nurse Practitioner. But for now, this is home and I am blessed.
Read 9 Reviews

• B-

• A-

• A

• 2,330 Population

Sardis

• Town in Tennessee

• C+

• A-

• A

• 460 Population

Adamsville

• Town in Tennessee
• 3

Current Resident: I love the small town feel, however I would enjoy more shopping outlets instead of having to drive 30 mins
Read 3 Reviews

• C+

• C+

• A

• 2,306 Population

Mountain City

• Town in Tennessee
• 5

Current Resident: Great small town to raise a family, but there is not much to do. Jobs are scarce and pay is low for most. The cost of living and the beauty of the mountains surrounding the town are a huge plus to living here. Unfortunately, in order to go to a larger city for shopping or work, the commute is up to an hour (one way)! This area is a very safe place to live. There not a great deal of crime per capita and the majority of crimes that do occur here are along the lines of petty theft and drug use. One downside is that there is a huge state prison in this town!! I guess they assume that, if an inmate escapes, they will have nowhere to go. Yeah, nowhere other than the closest citizen's back yard or woods!!
Read 5 Reviews

• C

• B-

• A

• 2,543 Population

Pittman Center

• Town in Tennessee

• B-

• B-

• A

• 423 Population

Doyle

• Town in Tennessee

• C

• B

• A

• 474 Population

Ardmore

• Town in Tennessee
• 2

Nearby Resident: Ardmore is a small town. It has some food places, two dollar generals, a post office, and other businesses. There is very little nightlife because everything closes; however, there is more nightlife at the eating facilities.
Read 2 Reviews

• C+

• C+

• A

• 1,182 Population

Lone Oak

• Town in Tennessee
• 6

Niche User: I love it here and could see myself returning after school and raising a family
Read 6 Reviews

• C+

• C+

• A

• 971 Population