About East TN - A Place for Families

In East Tennessee, life is good. The natural beauty of the region's mountains, lakes and valleys combined with a moderate climate provide year-round outdoor recreation and spectacular scenery. The Appalachians shelter the Tennessee Valley, creating four seasons with bursts of color spring and brilliant fall days. East Tennesseans also enjoy a low cost of living and high quality of life, as well as affordable housing, healthcare costs below the national average, a low crime rate, and no state or local personal income taxes.

A growing number of newcomers who are discovering a myriad of good reasons to call East Tennessee home, and the word is spreading. Knoxville has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best cities to live, start a career, raise a family and retire. Most recently, Forbes.com recognized Knoxville as the #1 most affordable city to live in the Southeast.

Educationally speaking, it's hard to beat East Tennessee. Two of the state's three best school systems are here in East Tennessee, and several schools rank among the country's best every year in various categories. The region abounds with opportunities in lifelong learning and health-career advancement.

East Tennessee is also home to the University of Tennessee and six other four-year colleges, two two-year colleges and three community colleges.