For the past decade, Tennessee has seen impressive population growth nearly every year. In fact, according to a study published in People Magazine in 2020 alone, more people moved to Tennessee than to any other state.
You might think everyone is moving close to downtown Nashville to pursue dreams of achieving fame or at least hoping to become neighbors with country music stars, but the Nashville music scene is only one reason people are moving to the state. Affordable housing, minimal taxes, low cost of living, and beautiful natural surroundings of mountains, hills, and some of the most stunning lakes in the nation, are among others.
As you're considering where to live, you're undoubtedly wondering about the safety you can expect in your new home. Much of Tennessee performs well above the national crime and safety index. Law enforcement organizations provide detailed violent and property crime statistics for each city so that you can make an informed decision and choose the best place for your family to live.
The safety index is calculated based on violent and property crime data gathered from law enforcement agencies. It divides the number of crime incidents per 1,000 residents and tracks both violent crimes per 1,000 and property crimes per 1,000. Those numbers combine for a total, which is then multiplied by 100 to generate the safety score compared to other US cities.
Chattanooga and Knoxville are two popular East Tennessee cities. The costs to live in major cities are often higher than in outlying towns and suburbs, and increased crime rates can make some of the more urban areas less appealing to families.
There are safe neighborhoods in nearly every city, of course, but the rising housing demand has made finding affordable property more challenging than ever. That's one reason that many families are deciding to forgo city living for a move to a suburb. And several appealing East Tennessee suburbs topped the list of safest places to live in the state. We compiled this quick list of the top three East Tennessee cities with safety, beauty, and charm to offer new residents.
Church Hill tops the list of safest cities to live in Tennessee, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Johnson City and 80 miles from Knoxville. With nearly 7,000 residents, it's known for being a safe small town for families.
As in other places in Tennessee, the cost of living is quite low and has a median income of $43,644. This area is home to historically significant New Canton Plantation, the antebellum mansion, six public parks, and some neighborhoods overlook the Holson River, offering home views of the river as well as beautiful rolling hills.
In terms of crime statistics, you can't get much better than places like Church Hill, whose crime index of 96 means it is safer than 96% of other cities. It has no incidents of recent violent crime per 1,000, and property crime is also minimal.
Signal Mountain is a suburb of Chattanooga. According to law enforcement data, it ranks second in the state for the lowest crime rates, with virtually no violent crime and few instances of property crime, making it safer than 84% of US cities.
Besides the low crime rate and proximity to the culturally diverse Chattanooga, Signal Mountain is known for being an affluent, if expensive, family-friendly place to live with many outdoor attractions for nature lovers. Hikers love the easy access to the Cumberland Trail, where scenic forests, waterfalls, and lakes leading up to the overlook at Signal Point, which offers unique views of the Tennessee River.
Within a quick commute of Knoxville and only an hour from Chattanooga, you have Loudon, Tennessee, with a current population of around 6,000 residents. Loudon is safer than nearly 70% of US cities and is a terrific, centrally-located town amidst other charming small and medium-sized cities with eclectic shops and local restaurants, beautiful nature trails and golf courses, and a host of excellent housing options.
Living in Loudon, you're only 20 minutes from excellent shopping and dining, so you don't have to sacrifice any comforts or amenities that you might in other suburbs or smaller cities. And best of all, Loudon comes in third in the entire state of safest cities, far less crime than the state average.
One of the best areas to live in Loudon is where Tennessee River and Watts Bar Lake meet. This area is known for gorgeous scenery of rolling hills, stunning forests, and magnificent lake views. Area residents say they love having the best of everything, a low crime rate and small-town atmosphere, unique and affordable lake real estate, and proximity to Knoxville for work, dining, and shopping.
If you decide to make the move to the Volunteer State, we hope you'll consider East Tennessee and come visit our lake and golf resort community, Tennessee National.
At Tennessee National, we take safety very seriously. Not only is our community located in one of the safest cities in Tennessee, but we also invest in our residents' safety with gate-controlled access and 24-hour security to give you even more peace of mind. Visit today and see why so many new families are choosing to call Tennessee National home.
