Why So Many Retirees Are Packing Up and Heading to East Tennessee

Are you someone who wants to plan a retirement and is wondering why so many retirees have a one-stop destination, Tennessee? If yes, your answer is here.

According to Point2homes, East Tennessee is home to 1,282,249 residents, according to the most recent Census data. Gender-wise, 49.3% of East Tennessee locals are male, and 50.7% are female.

Thus, this article aims to uncover what’s driving the trend of this migration and delve into the reasons for the same. It explores the cost of living that lets you live there, and why it just feels right being there, and more!

Key Takeaways

• The Cost of Living Actually Lets You Live
• The Scenery Never Gets Old
• A Climate That Gives You All Four Seasons
• Community That Actually Feels Like Community
• Access to Quality Healthcare
• Proximity to Plenty Without the Chaos
• It Just Feels Right
• Ready to Make East Tennessee Your Home?

The Cost of Living Actually Lets You Live

One of the biggest reasons people are choosing East Tennessee over other popular retirement destinations comes down to dollars and cents.

Money is an undeniable part of your retirement plans. Retirees are often living on fixed incomes, and stretching those dollars matters. 

East Tennessee delivers you a significantly lower cost of living, which makes it a prime location without having to sacrifice the quality of life you wish to have post retirement.

Here are some prime reasons that make it a prime location : 

• Housing Prices: Housing prices are affordable, and you can get aesthetic views like mountains and lakes at prices that would only bring you a cramped condo in other markets.
• Property taxes: Another plus point is reasonable property taxes, and moreover, Tennessee has no state income tax.

Especially for retirees pulling from pensions, 401(k)s, or Social Security, that’s a game-changer. 

The infographics further depict the cost of living in Tennessee : 

The Scenery Never Gets Old

East Tennessee sits in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, with a scenery that never gets old. 

Rolling green hills, misty mountain ridges, sparkling lakes, and rivers that wind through valleys. This is the kind of landscape that makes you want to slow down and take it all in.

The communities that live around Tellico Lake, Norris Lake, and the surrounding areas offer waterfront living as well.

So, whether you’re into fishing, kayaking, hiking, or just sitting on your deck with a cup of coffee and watching the sun come up over the mountains, this area delivers that kind of peace every single day. This makes it worth living.

And let’s be honest, after spending decades working, commuting, and rushing to keep up with the pace of modern life, this is exactly what most retirees look for.

A Climate That Gives You All Four Seasons

Unlike other retirement hotspots where it’s either blazing hot or bitterly cold for half the year, East Tennessee will bring you a genuine four-season experience.

Springs and flows are gorgeous, with wildflowers blanketing the hillsides. Even the summers are warm but manageable, especially if you compare them to the Deep South.

The foliage alone draws visitors from all over the country. And winters flow with occasional dustings of snow that look beautiful without burying your driveway for months.

For retirees who want variety without going through extremes, East Tennessee hits a sweet spot that’s actually hard to beat.

Community That Actually Feels Like Community

One thing that has been constant when retirees talk about moving to East Tennessee is the sense of community. This isn’t a place where people keep to themselves and hide behind privacy fences.

It is a wholesome and welcoming environment. Neighbors wave. People stop to chat at the grocery store. Local events, church gatherings, and volunteer organizations bring folks together in a way that feels genuine .

Many of the planned communities and lake neighborhoods in the region are specifically designed with active adults in mind. 

Access to Golf courses, clubhouses, fitness centers, walking trails, and social clubs is woven into the fabric of daily life. 

It’s easy to make friends, stay active, and build a social circle, something that can be surprisingly hard to do later in life if you’re starting fresh somewhere new and at a different place.

Fun Fact : The first combination candy bar was created in Tennessee: The Goo Goo Cluster.

Access to Quality Healthcare

Retirement planning isn’t just about scenery and social life. Healthcare access matters a lot.

East Tennessee is home to a strong network of hospitals, specialty clinics, and medical facilities. 

It has prestigious medical help, such as the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, which is a Level I trauma center.

 And other are numerous healthcare providers throughout the region offer everything from routine care to specialized treatment.

Having reliable, high-quality healthcare that is close to home gives them constant access to care, and it’s one of the practical factors that make East Tennessee a smart choice, not just a pretty one.

Proximity to Plenty Without the Chaos

East Tennessee offers something that’s increasingly rare:

•  You can live in a quiet, peaceful setting and still be within easy reach of everything you need. 
• Knoxville is a vibrant mid-sized city with excellent dining, shopping, entertainment, and cultural attractions. 
• Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are right in your backyard for weekend fun.
•  Asheville, Chattanooga, and Nashville are all within a few hours’ drive.

You get the best of both worlds: a slower pace at home with plenty of adventure just down the road whenever you want it.

It Just Feels Right

At the end of the day, a lot of retirees say the same thing about East Tennessee: it just feels like home.

Endless facilities and luxury cannot bring you what a home can.

East Tennessee brings you the warmth of a home, the people, the beauty of the land, and a rhythm to life here that’s hard to put into words but easy to feel the moment you arrive. 

It brings you happiness, peace, and tranquility somethinhg we crave all our lives.

Ready to Make East Tennessee Your Home?

If you’ve been dreaming about retiring to the mountains and lakes of East Tennessee, the best first step is working with someone who knows this area inside and out.

 Rick Smenner is a trusted local Tellico Lake realtor specializing in the area, and he’s helped countless retirees find exactly the right home for their next chapter of life. Whether you’re looking for a lakefront property, a mountain view, or a welcoming community with all the amenities, he has all of it. 

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