Tennessee a good place to live?

Question

My husband really wants to move to Tennessee, in the mountains. Anyone live there? I don't really know anything about the area. So please tell me the good and the bad!

Answer 1

I do not live in Tennessee, but I have went through there a couple times.  And as many places I have been, Tennessee is the first place I would make a point to say how beautiful it is there.  Never had any weather trouble, and it is all in all gorgeous.  I was also thinking about relocating there.

Answer 2

I was born in Kingsport, went to grad school in johnson city, and have tons of family out around lenoir city.   So, I guess that makes me a mountain man--even though I live in Connecticut today, blah.

Its so beautiful, and its rich in culture.  The land/property is fairly inexpensive.  The weather is four season but not terribly extreme in any one.  The towns are tight knit usually, revolving around county fairs and prep sports.  The public education is not bad either, but this depends on where you live--the Tri-Cities are actually very well educated, including Carter , Washington and Sullivan counties.  

Politically speaking, its Christian Libertarian.  Look into the sale tax--its about 9% but thats because they have few other taxes.  Again, it libertarian.  

If I could just live any where on the planet, it would be along the outskirts of Johnson City, like Gray (TN) or anywhere in Carter County, especially Elizabethton.  Its a really nice place to live.  You are not far from the airport, Johnson CIty is right there for anything you need, and you're an hour away from Knoxville as well as Asheville (NC), the latter being the coolest small city stateside.

Avoid Kingsport--thats where Eastman Kodak is located--unless you are living outside in Sullivan County.  Sevier County is full of tourist traps but is loads of fun in every direction.  The Chattanooga area, like Lee, is super-hyper-Conservative...I mean I was raised Baptist, and they even scare me at times, lol.  Chattanooga itself is amazing, however.  Don't drink the water in Oak Ridge--Y12 is located there, yeah my uncle and his buddies who worked at Y12 all died of cancer, go figure.  Knoxville is nice to visit, but do not live in it...why would you move to the hills and live in a place like the Hill (a reference to the University of Tennessee, which is sprawled throughout the city itself)?      

I recommend the Tri-Cities, though I am biased having grown up there.  Darn, I miss 'em. Go see the Smokies.  Hike Buffalo Gap.  Drive around Johnson City and visit Elizabethton or Jonesborough.  Download some Everybody Fields.  Go to Bristol and dance at the Carter family fold.  Also tune in online to the local NPR station from East Tennessee State; the link is below.  Hope this helps ya'