Top 10 Places to Retire in Tennessee in 2027

1. Franklin Tennessee

Franklin ranks first for combining small-town charm with big-city access, sitting just south of Nashville with a walkable historic downtown built around a preserved Civil War-era square. Retirees get Tennessee's lack of a state income tax, proximity to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and a dense calendar of festivals, farmers markets, and live music venues within a short drive.

This pick suits retirees who want Nashville's amenities without living in it, trading lower cost per square foot found farther out for walkability and healthcare access. Compared to Brentwood just north, Franklin leans more historic and pedestrian-friendly rather than purely suburban, with more independent shops and restaurants lining Main Street.

2. Chattanooga Tennessee

Chattanooga takes second for its riverfront setting on the Tennessee River, anchored by the Tennessee Aquarium and a 13-mile Riverwalk that draws retirees who want daily outdoor activity built into city living. Lookout Mountain and the Cumberland Plateau frame the city, giving hikers and cyclists immediate trail access without leaving the metro area.

It fits active retirees drawn to a mid-size city with a revitalized downtown rather than a quiet rural setting. Unlike Franklin's Nashville-adjacent suburban feel, Chattanooga functions as its own self-contained city with a distinct arts and outdoor-recreation identity, trading some big-city healthcare density for lower overall living costs.

3. Knoxville Tennessee

Knoxville earns third as the closest major city to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the country, putting hiking, fishing, and cabin day-trips within roughly 45 minutes. The University of Tennessee anchors a college-town culture with continuing-education classes, Vol athletics, and a walkable Market Square downtown.

Retirees who want mountain access paired with a full-service medical system, including the University of Tennessee Medical Center, will find Knoxville practical. Compared to Chattanooga, Knoxville sits closer to the highest peaks in the Smokies but has a less developed riverfront trail network.

4. Johnson City Tennessee

Johnson City ranks fourth as the largest of the Tri-Cities in Northeast Tennessee, giving retirees access to the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains along with Ballad Health's regional hospital system based locally. East Tennessee State University keeps a college-town pulse going in a metro area otherwise defined by small mountain towns and lake access at nearby Boone Lake.

This suits retirees prioritizing mountain scenery and a lower cost of living over big-city amenities. Compared to Knoxville, Johnson City is smaller and quieter, with less nightlife and shopping density but easier, less-crowded access to Appalachian trailheads.

5. Murfreesboro Tennessee

Murfreesboro lands fifth as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Nashville metro, southeast of downtown Nashville, offering newer housing stock and a historic downtown square anchored by the Rutherford County Courthouse. Middle Tennessee State University adds continuing-education options and cultural programming without the density of a major city.

It works for retirees who want Nashville-area access at a lower price point than Franklin or Brentwood, trading some walkability and historic charm for newer construction and more space. It sits farther from mountain recreation than Knoxville or Chattanooga, favoring convenience over scenery.

6. Maryville Tennessee

Maryville ranks sixth as the seat of Blount County and a direct gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, sitting closer to the park's Townsend entrance than Knoxville itself. Blount Memorial Hospital provides local care, while downtown Maryville has grown a small but active dining and arts scene around its historic courthouse square.

This fits retirees who want quiet, low-density mountain-adjacent living rather than city amenities, with Knoxville's larger hospital system and airport a short drive away. Compared to Johnson City, Maryville sits closer to the park's most-visited entrances but offers a smaller, less developed downtown core.

7. Brentwood Tennessee

Brentwood takes seventh as an affluent Nashville suburb known for large-lot housing, extensive greenway trails, and consistently ranked public parks like Marcella Vivrette Smith Park. It sits directly between Nashville and Franklin, giving retirees fast access to both downtown Nashville's healthcare and entertainment and Franklin's historic district.

Brentwood suits retirees prioritizing quiet, low-density suburban living and proximity to Nashville over walkable downtown character. Compared to Franklin immediately south, Brentwood has fewer historic storefronts and public gathering spaces, trading that texture for larger properties and more privacy.

8. Cookeville Tennessee

Cookeville ranks eighth as the main hub of the Upper Cumberland region, sitting on the Cumberland Plateau roughly equidistant between Nashville and Knoxville. Nearby Center Hill Lake and Burgess Falls State Park give retirees water and waterfall access, while Tennessee Tech University adds a college-town element to an otherwise rural county seat.

This fits retirees seeking a rural, lake-oriented lifestyle with lower housing costs than the Nashville or Knoxville metros, at the tradeoff of a smaller regional hospital system. Unlike Maryville, Cookeville centers on lake and plateau recreation rather than mountain-trail access.

9. Jackson Tennessee

Jackson ranks ninth as the largest city in West Tennessee, offering retirees a lower cost of living and the region's main hospital hub, West Tennessee Healthcare, without the drive time to Memphis. The Casey Jones Village and downtown's ties to the city's railroad history give it a distinct regional identity apart from Middle and East Tennessee's mountain towns.

It suits retirees who want West Tennessee's flatter terrain and rural pace over mountain or riverfront settings. Compared to Cookeville, Jackson trades plateau and lake scenery for closer access to Memphis's larger airport and specialty medical centers.

10. Kingsport Tennessee

Kingsport rounds out the list as the third of the Tri-Cities, built along the Holston River with a planned downtown historic district dating to the 1910s City Beautiful movement. Bays Mountain Park, a city-owned nature preserve with a planetarium, gives retirees free, close-by outdoor programming uncommon in a city this size.

This fits retirees wanting a smaller, quieter Tri-Cities option than Johnson City, with a distinctive planned downtown but a smaller hospital system than Ballad Health's Johnson City campus. It suits those prioritizing affordability and mountain proximity over metro-level amenities.

How we ranked these

The ranking weighted the five factors retirees repeatedly cite when relocating: cost of living measured against the national average, Tennessee's absence of state income tax on Social Security, pensions, and retirement-account withdrawals, county property tax rates, proximity to hospital systems rated for cardiac and orthopedic care, and FBI-reported violent crime data. Median home price, typical HOA fees, and Medicare Advantage plan availability were folded into the affordability and healthcare-access components for each city.

School district quality, job market strength, and nightlife density were deliberately excluded since they rarely factor into a retiree's decision. Snowfall totals were noted but not weighted heavily, since most candidate cities cluster in the same mild range. Rankings also ignored short-term price spikes from 2024-2025 pandemic-era migration, treating them as noise rather than a durable signal, and excluded towns without at least one senior-living or 55-plus community already operating.

Related questions

Does Tennessee tax Social Security or retirement income?

No. Tennessee has no state income tax at all, so Social Security benefits, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, and annuity payments pass through completely untaxed at the state level. The state repealed its old Hall Tax on interest and dividends in 2021, removing the last piece of investment-income taxation. Retirees still pay federal tax on taxable withdrawals and Social Security above IRS thresholds.

How does Tennessee's cost of living compare to the national average?

Tennessee runs roughly 10-12% below the national cost-of-living average, driven mainly by housing. Cities like Cookeville, Johnson City, and Clarksville post overall indexes in the 85-90 range versus a national baseline of 100, while Nashville and Franklin sit closer to or above 100 due to housing demand. Groceries, utilities, and healthcare costs statewide trend near or slightly under the national median.

What is the best Tennessee city for retirees who need specialized healthcare?

Knoxville and Nashville have the state's deepest hospital networks — Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Medical Center both carry top rankings for cardiac, cancer, and orthopedic care. Chattanooga's Erlanger Health System also serves as a regional referral hub. Retirees prioritizing proximity to advanced specialists generally do better near these three metro areas than in smaller towns.

Are there active 55-plus retirement communities in Tennessee?

Yes. Del Webb operates active-adult communities near Nashville and in the Chattanooga area, and several smaller 55-plus developments exist around Murfreesboro, Franklin, and the Tri-Cities region. These communities typically bundle lawn care, clubhouses, and golf or pickleball amenities into HOA fees, which run higher than a standalone home but lower than comparable communities in Florida or Arizona.

How does Tennessee weather compare across these retirement cities?

Tennessee splits into three climate zones: humid subtropical in the west and middle (Memphis, Nashville, Murfreesboro) with hot summers, milder four-season weather in the east (Knoxville, Chattanooga), and cooler mountain conditions near Gatlinburg and the Smokies, which can see measurable winter snow. Retirees sensitive to heat generally prefer East Tennessee; those wanting warm summers with mild winters lean toward Middle Tennessee.

Is Tennessee a safe state for retirees?

Safety varies significantly by city rather than statewide. Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Johnson City consistently post violent crime rates well below the national average, while Memphis and parts of Nashville report rates above it. As with most states, crime concentrates in specific urban corridors, so retirees should check neighborhood-level, not just city-level, crime data before choosing a specific address.

What property tax rates should retirees expect in Tennessee?

Tennessee property tax rates run low relative to the national average, generally between 0.5% and 0.9% of assessed value depending on county, versus a national average near 1.1%. Williamson County (Franklin) and Davidson County (Nashville) trend slightly higher due to home values, while rural counties like Putnam (Cookeville) and Washington (Johnson City) stay near the bottom of the range.

How far are these Tennessee cities from a major airport?

Nashville International (BNA) and Memphis International serve as the state's two major hubs, followed by McGhee Tyson near Knoxville and Chattanooga Metropolitan. Franklin and Murfreesboro sit within 30-40 minutes of BNA, while Johnson City and Cookeville are 60-90 minutes from a regional or major airport, making commercial flight access a meaningful differentiator for retirees who travel to see family.

FAQ

What is the number one retirement destination in Tennessee for 2027?

Chattanooga consistently ranks at or near the top for 2027 due to its combination of below-average cost of living, a growing riverfront downtown, the Erlanger regional hospital system, and mild four-season weather. It also draws retirees relocating from higher-cost states like California and New York who want walkable neighborhoods without Nashville-level housing prices.

Is Nashville a good place to retire, or is it too expensive now?

Nashville offers unmatched healthcare access through Vanderbilt and a major airport, but median home prices have risen sharply since 2020, pushing many retirees to nearby suburbs like Murfreesboro and Franklin instead. Retirees who want city amenities without downtown Nashville pricing typically choose a satellite city within a 30-minute commute rather than Nashville proper.

What's the cheapest place to retire in Tennessee?

Cookeville and Jackson typically post the lowest overall cost-of-living indexes among mid-sized Tennessee cities, with median home prices well under the state average and low property tax rates. Both offer smaller regional hospital systems rather than major medical centers, so retirees prioritizing rock-bottom cost sometimes trade off proximity to top-tier specialist care.

Does Tennessee have good healthcare for seniors?

Tennessee's healthcare access concentrates around Nashville (Vanderbilt), Knoxville (UT Medical Center), and Chattanooga (Erlanger), all of which carry national rankings in cardiac and cancer care. Rural counties have fewer specialists and longer drive times to major hospitals, so retirees with chronic conditions generally fare better choosing a metro area over a small town.

How much does it cost to live in Chattanooga as a retiree?

A retired couple can typically live comfortably in Chattanooga on $45,000-$55,000 a year including housing, given a cost-of-living index around 88-90 versus the national 100 baseline. Median home prices sit in the low-to-mid $300,000s as of 2026, notably below comparable mid-sized cities in neighboring states like North Carolina or Georgia.

Are Tennessee's Smoky Mountains a good retirement spot?

Towns like Sevierville and Pigeon Forge near the Great Smoky Mountains appeal to retirees who want scenery and outdoor access, but tourism traffic, seasonal crowding, and limited year-round healthcare infrastructure are real trade-offs. Retirees drawn to the mountains but wanting hospital access often choose Knoxville, about 30-45 minutes away, as a compromise.

What is the average property tax bill for retirees in Tennessee?

On a median-priced home around $350,000, Tennessee's blended state-and-local effective property tax rate of roughly 0.6-0.7% works out to about $2,100-$2,450 a year, well under the national median property tax bill of over $3,000. County rates vary, so retirees should confirm exact millage rates before committing to a specific address.

Do retirees need to worry about Tennessee sales tax?

Yes — Tennessee offsets its lack of income tax with one of the nation's highest combined sales tax rates, averaging around 9.55% statewide including local add-ons. Groceries are taxed at a reduced state rate but still carry local sales tax on top, so retirees on fixed incomes should factor everyday sales tax into cost-of-living comparisons, not just income tax savings.

Is Murfreesboro or Franklin better for retirees?

Murfreesboro generally costs less than Franklin, with lower median home prices and property taxes, while Franklin offers more upscale amenities, closer Nashville proximity, and stronger long-term home value appreciation. Retirees prioritizing budget typically lean Murfreesboro; those prioritizing resale value and walkable downtown charm typically lean Franklin, which sits in wealthier Williamson County.

How does Tennessee compare to Florida for retirement?

Both states have no state income tax, but Tennessee generally offers a lower overall cost of living and cheaper homeowners insurance, since it carries no hurricane risk. Florida offers warmer year-round weather that Tennessee can't match statewide. Retirees choosing between them often decide based on climate preference and proximity to existing family rather than tax differences.

Sources

• https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement
• https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/
• https://www.aarp.org/retirement/
• https://www.tn.gov/revenue.html
• https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/TN
• https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/
• https://www.vumc.org/
• https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-retire
• https://www.forbes.com/advisor/retirement/best-states-to-retire/
• https://smartasset.com/retirement

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