An analysis by RentCafe ranked 139 metropolitan areas in the United States, six of which were in Tennessee.
The real estate company measured urban areas based on their socio-economic characteristics, quality of life, location and community to determine the overall livability of each city.
Within these three categories, RentCafe looked at things like cost of living, unemployment rates, access to recreation and entertainment, length of commute, healthcare and more.
Here’s how these Tennessee cities stacked up.
1. Clarksville
The Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, is illuminated by the sunset on March 23, 2022.
Clarksville earned the highest livability ranking in Tennessee, ranking No. 88 nationally.
Clarksville is located in North Tennessee and shares the city border with the Kentucky state line. According to 2020 census data, the city has a population of 166,722 with a median household income of $67,246.
RentCafe ranked Clarksville highest for “Quality of Life” in Tennessee. The city has a large number of residents with health insurance, over 90%, and a ratio of 24 healthcare providers per 10,000 residents.
2. Nashville
Lower Broadway in Nashville lights up signage as tourists visit the eateries and honky tonks on Thursday evening, July 13, 2023.
Music City ranks second in Tennessee for livability and number 100 overall.
Nashville has a population of 689,447 and a high education rate with nearly 51% of residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Nashville has the second-highest number of arts, entertainment and recreation venues per 10,000 residents in the country, surpassed only by Los Angeles. The city also has the best food in Tennessee and the most active population in the Volunteer State, according to the data.
However, the study notes heavy traffic in this urban area, which lowers the ranking.
3.Knoxville
A view of the downtown Knoxville skyline from the roof of the Andrew Johnson Building includes the well-known Sunsphere.
The Scruffy City ranks third in Tennessee and number 105 nationally. However, Knoxville has the lowest Quality of Life score among Tennessee metro areas.
Knoxville residents also report being mentally unwell for an average of almost a week (six days) – the highest period in the country, according to Rent Cafe. The city also lacks access to parks and gyms, the report said.
That said, Knoxville had the highest rank in “Location and Community” in the state. This means that there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the community and that there are a large number of residents with a secondary education.
4. Chattanooga
Chattanooga represents southeastern Tennessee and is ranked 108th in the country.
The metropolitan area has the highest rank in the state’s ‘socio-economy’, which takes into account the cost of living, poverty rate and income growth.
RentCafe’s research showed that seven in ten residents have a gym or a park nearby. On the other hand, the data shows that about 13% of Chattanooga residents do not have health insurance.
5. King Sports
Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee.
Kingsport is ranked fifth in the Volunteer State and No. 112 nationwide.
Located in northeastern Tennessee along the Virginia state line, Kingsport is known for its hand-carved carousel and as home to the original Long Island iced tea recipe. According to Census data, it has a small population of about 55,442.
RentCafe reports that, on average, Kingsport residents are more physically active and have more access to exercise options than the rest of the state.
In addition, the city has a low number of residents who face problems such as overcrowding or a lack of basic home amenities such as kitchens or plumbing.
However, according to RentCafe, Kingsport’s income growth is the lowest in the state, at just 4%.
6. Memphis
The Mississippi River, the Hernando de Soto Bridge and the Memphis skyline are seen from the roof of the Sterick Building during a tour of the building in downtown Memphis, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.
Memphis is the only city in western Tennessee to make the RentCafe list; However, it ranked last in livability in Tennessee and in the bottom 10% of metropolitan areas RentCafe studies nationwide, taking spot number 126.
This metropolitan area has approximately 633,104 residents, half of whom have long commutes.
RentCafe also reports that 15.5% of households in Memphis are experiencing serious housing problems. The data also shows that Memphis has the most physically inactive population, a lack of access to gyms or parks and a high number of uninsured residents.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where’s Tennessee’s Best Place to Live? How to rank Nashville, Knoxville
