Best suburbs to live in Tennessee

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April 3, 2024
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Best suburbs to live in Tennessee

Cities may have the nightlife, but the convenience and affordability of the suburbs are becoming hot as the millennial generation moves into its homebuying phase. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic shook up workplace norms and superheated the housing market, folks have been flocking away from major urban centers.

In Colorado, for instance, lesser-known suburbs outside of Denver such as Boulder have become magnets for young parents, ranking among the biggest destinations for out-of-state millennials who chose to move in 2023. And companies are taking note of the trend as well: Many are establishing satellite offices and new headquarters in less urban areas.

Stacker compiled a list of the best suburbs to live in Tennessee using data from Niche's 2024 Best Places to Live. Niche ranks places to live based on an array of factors, including the cost of living, educational level of residents, housing costs, and quality of schools.

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#22. Spring Hill, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 2,393
- Population: 51,319
- Median household income: $104,880
- Median home value: $389,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,688 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Creekside Elementary School (grade A+), Legacy Middle School (grade A), Thompson's Station Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Battle Ground Academy (grade A+), Agathos Classical School (grade A minus), Franklin Classical School (grade A minus)
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#21. Hendersonville, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 2,338
- Population: 61,589
- Median household income: $86,954
- Median home value: $364,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,407 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Merrol Hyde Magnet School (grade A), Springdale Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pope John Paul II Preparatory School (grade A), Davidson Academy (grade A), Goodpasture Christian School (grade A minus)
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#20. Murfreesboro, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 2,301
- Population: 153,487
- Median household income: $70,451
- Median home value: $327,400 (53% own)
- Median rent: $1,272 (47% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Magnet School (grade A+), Mill Creek Middle School (grade A), Gladeville Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Webb School (grade A+), Lighthouse Christian School & Preschool (grade A), Lancaster Christian Academy (grade A minus)
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#19. Tusculum, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 2,140
- Population: 3,261
- Median household income: $68,387
- Median home value: $220,700 (88% own)
- Median rent: $874 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Greeneville High School (grade A), Greeneville Middle School (grade B+), Tusculum View Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Towering Oaks Christian School (grade unavailable), Greeneville Adventist Academy (grade unavailable), Beacon School (grade unavailable)
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#18. Collegedale, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 2,086
- Population: 11,001
- Median household income: $69,942
- Median home value: $331,500 (42% own)
- Median rent: $1,366 (58% rent)
- Top public schools: STEM School Chattanooga (grade A), Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (grade A), Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) - Upper School (grade A)
- Top private schools: McCallie School (grade A+), Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (grade A), Collegedale Academy (grade A minus)
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#17. Walden, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 2,032
- Population: 1,802
- Median household income: $130,227
- Median home value: $581,100 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,313 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: STEM School Chattanooga (grade A), Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (grade A), Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) - Upper School (grade A)
- Top private schools: McCallie School (grade A+), Baylor School (grade A+), Girls Preparatory School (grade A)
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#16. Oak Hill, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,874
- Population: 4,764
- Median household income: $201,650
- Median home value: $972,600 (95% own)
- Median rent: $2,221 (5% rent)
- Top public schools: Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School (grade A+), Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Jordan Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: University School of Nashville (grade A+), Harpeth Hall School (grade A+), Montgomery Bell Academy (grade A+)
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#15. Maryville, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,855
- Population: 31,876
- Median household income: $74,610
- Median home value: $269,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,070 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Coulter Grove Intermediate School (grade A), Foothills Elementary School (grade A), Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Clayton-Bradley Academy (grade A minus), The King's Academy (grade A minus), Crossroads Christian Academy (grade B)
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#14. Alcoa, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,787
- Population: 11,095
- Median household income: $63,580
- Median home value: $216,100 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,017 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Alcoa Elementary School (grade A), Alcoa Middle School (grade A), Alcoa Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Webb School of Knoxville (grade A+), Rivers Edge Christian Academy (grade A), Knoxville Catholic High School (grade A)
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#13. Forest Hills, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,697
- Population: 4,922
- Median household income: $239,643
- Median home value: $1,038,300 (98% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (2% rent)
- Top public schools: Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School (grade A+), Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Creekside Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: University School of Nashville (grade A+), Harpeth Hall School (grade A+), Montgomery Bell Academy (grade A+)
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#12. Lookout Mountain, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,566
- Population: 2,128
- Median household income: $181,458
- Median home value: $710,600 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,446 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: STEM School Chattanooga (grade A), Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (grade A), Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) - Upper School (grade A)
- Top private schools: McCallie School (grade A+), Baylor School (grade A+), Girls Preparatory School (grade A)
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#11. Oak Ridge, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,552
- Population: 31,535
- Median household income: $67,152
- Median home value: $211,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,033 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Glenwood Elementary School (grade A), Linden Elementary School (grade A), Woodland Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Webb School of Knoxville (grade A+), Rivers Edge Christian Academy (grade A), Knoxville Catholic High School (grade A)
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#10. Johnson City, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,531
- Population: 70,720
- Median household income: $53,173
- Median home value: $215,500 (50% own)
- Median rent: $893 (50% rent)
- Top public schools: Towne Acres Elementary School (grade A), Woodland Elementary School (grade A), Fairmont Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Providence Academy (grade A minus), Cedar View Christian School (grade C+), Lighthouse Christian School (grade C minus)
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#9. Mount Juliet, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,354
- Population: 39,525
- Median household income: $108,066
- Median home value: $381,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,774 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Springdale Elementary School (grade A), Gladeville Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Nashville (grade A+), Franklin Road Academy (grade A), The Academy for GOD (grade A minus)
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#8. Thompson's Station, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,325
- Population: 7,426
- Median household income: $116,569
- Median home value: $552,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $2,116 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Creekside Elementary School (grade A+), Legacy Middle School (grade A), Thompson's Station Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Battle Ground Academy (grade A+), Franklin Road Academy (grade A), Brentwood Academy (grade A)
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#7. Collierville, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,309
- Population: 51,170
- Median household income: $129,729
- Median home value: $409,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,488 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Lakeland Elementary School (grade A), Arlington Elementary School (grade A), Donelson Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lausanne Collegiate School (grade A+), St. Mary's Episcopal School (grade A+), Memphis University School (grade A+)
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#6. Germantown, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 943
- Population: 41,094
- Median household income: $140,429
- Median home value: $402,300 (88% own)
- Median rent: $1,700 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Forest Hill Elementary School (grade A), White Station High School (grade A), Farmington Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lausanne Collegiate School (grade A+), St. Mary's Episcopal School (grade A+), Memphis University School (grade A+)
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#5. Signal Mountain, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 911
- Population: 8,833
- Median household income: $132,639
- Median home value: $431,800 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,670 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: STEM School Chattanooga (grade A), Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (grade A), Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) - Upper School (grade A)
- Top private schools: McCallie School (grade A+), Baylor School (grade A+), Girls Preparatory School (grade A)
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#4. Franklin, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 597
- Population: 83,630
- Median household income: $106,592
- Median home value: $574,000 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,785 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Jordan Elementary School (grade A+), Creekside Elementary School (grade A+), Brentwood High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Nashville (grade A+), Harpeth Hall School (grade A+), Montgomery Bell Academy (grade A+)
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#3. Farragut, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 455
- Population: 23,795
- Median household income: $135,725
- Median home value: $463,300 (86% own)
- Median rent: $1,525 (14% rent)
- Top public schools: Farragut High School (grade A), L&N STEM Academy (grade A), Farragut Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Webb School of Knoxville (grade A+), Rivers Edge Christian Academy (grade A), Knoxville Catholic High School (grade A)
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#2. Brentwood, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 200
- Population: 44,830
- Median household income: $181,576
- Median home value: $842,400 (92% own)
- Median rent: $2,459 (8% rent)
- Top public schools: Ravenwood High School (grade A+), Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Jordan Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: University School of Nashville (grade A+), Harpeth Hall School (grade A+), Montgomery Bell Academy (grade A+)
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#1. Nolensville, Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 147
- Population: 14,444
- Median household income: $158,266
- Median home value: $601,900 (93% own)
- Median rent: $2,714 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: Ravenwood High School (grade A+), Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Jordan Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Franklin Road Academy (grade A), Brentwood Academy (grade A), Lighthouse Christian School & Preschool (grade A)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 40 states.

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