These Are the Best Neighborhoods in Knoxville

Knoxville, Tennessee is an excellent place to relocate to. The cost of living is fair, the weather is largely pleasurable, and there are great economic opportunities. But which neighborhood in Knoxville is right for you? Here is a little information about some of the most-beloved regions that will have you jumping at Knoxville Real Estate. They’re places of historic richness, ample cultural activities, places to eat, shop, play, and learn, and more.

1.  Downtown

Downtown Knoxville, the city’s central business district, is home to long-standing department stores, historic venues like the Bijou and Tennessee theaters, cocktail lounges, sports bars, and dining options from barbecue to sushi. In the World’s Fair Park, the Sunsphere tower is topped by a gold orb and offers city views, while Knoxville Museum of Art shows East Tennessee artists in a pink marble-clad building. If you’re a fan of nightlife, Downtown is a great place to explore.

2.  West Knoxville

West Knoxville is a sprawling, affluent residential and commercial area with large shopping centers like Turkey Creek and West Town Mall. Eateries along Kingston Pike spanning BBQ and Mexican to Thai and Japanese are interspersed with brewpubs and bakeries, while nightlife includes country dancehalls and gay bars. Historic Westwood is an ornate 1890 mansion open for tours, and Sequoyah Park has riverside trails. If you have a bit more income to play with, this may be the area for you.

3.  North Knoxville

Sprawling North Knoxville is an up-and-coming district where long-standing Southern eateries mix with hip brewpubs, bakeries, and cafes. The small Old North Knoxville area has shady streets lined with mansions from the late-19th and early-20th centuries in a range of styles from Queen Anne to Craftsman. Trails in Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park offer over the city to the Great Smoky Mountains. If historic homes are of interest, Old North Knoxville is the more antiquated area of town initially established in 1889. The area was a prominent suburb for Knoxville’s upper middle and professional classes until the 1950s, and many old and gorgeous homes remain there today.

4. East Knoxville

Quiet East Knoxville is home to Zoo Knoxville, with animal encounters and camel rides, and The Muse, an interactive kids’ science museum. A former nursery founded in 1786, the Botanical Garden and Arboretum has display gardens and distinctive stone walls. African-American history exhibits are shown at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame has memorabilia and a gift shop. This area is ideal for families with young children and those who want to prioritize inclusivity and diversity in their neighborhood.

5. Fort Sanders

Popular with students at the nearby University of Tennessee, Fort Sanders is a lively, down-to-earth neighborhood known for its low-key dive bars and eateries serving pizzas, sushi, or Thai food. Grand Victorian-era mansions are scattered around the area, and the Laurel Theater presents folk concerts in a converted 19th-century church. Funky shops along Cumberland Avenue sell vintage clothing, books, and skater gear. If you’re in the 18 to 30 range, this could be a great place to put down some roots.