Moving to Knoxville/Farragut/Maryville-people specifics (Oak Ridge, Alcoa: fit in, apartment, to rent)

[thisismyname10]

Just came back from visiting the Knoxville area. Considering a move there next summer.
We drove ALL the way around the city over the course of 4 days.. Basically the circle around Knoxville- Oak Ridge, Rocky Top, Maynardville, Dandridge, Wears Valley, Townsend, Maryville, and Farragut. Tried to cover most everything going closer to Knoxville as well.


So now for a few more specific questions if anyone feels like sharing thoughts & opinions


Basically we've narrowed it down to Farragut/West Knoxville/Bluegrass (is that considered a town?)/Maryville.


My husband and I are in our early 30s, I know I can transfer with my job to a location in West Knoxville (Cedar Bluff area) off of i40, and he is a middle/high school teacher. No children and we don't plan to have them. We like to hang out at the occasional brewery, play board games (he also plays dungeons and dragons if anyone is familiar with that), league bowling, yoga, coffee shops, thrift stores, etc... typical "millennial" things, I guess. Wanting to join a co-ed sports team too.
We are looking forward to being close to the city for date nights, events, etc. And less than an hour from the Smoky Mountains.


Did not care for Oak Ridge. Seems a little too quiet and isolated.


Maryville seems nice, but appears to be catered toward retired folks and families with children, did I get the right impression?


Farragut seems like the best fit.. I just worry that it will be hard for us to find a place, other threads seem to indicate it rapidly growing and being a more "affluent" part of Knox. Rent needs to be under $1500/mo and accept a small dog and cat. We hope to buy a place but probably need to rent for the first year.


Also, we noticed there are churches on every corner..... is that going to be an issue? Can we find friends that don't go to church 3 times a week? :-D I was raised Baptist/Church of Christ, and still loosely follow that mindset but we just choose not to make it a part of our daily lives. Still politically conservative. *I mean no disrespect by this, just wanting to make sure we will fit in.*


Basically, where are the younger couples living?


Background info: we are originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Moved to Houston (Conroe) about 5 years ago. I've just grown to really dislike the Houston area. extreme heat/humidity, traffic, overcrowded, flat land, pollution, and everywhere you turn they are clearing another area for cookie cutter houses, PROPERTY TAXES... among other things.


I've always loved Tennessee, and I think we got a pretty good lay of the land, just trying to figure out where we fit in people-wise.




ALSO.. my mom and stepfather are planning to move here as well, they're looking for a quieter area with at least 2 acres of property. Seem feasible in the Alcoa/Maryville area? $200k budget.


Thanks so much!

[JOinGA]

Have you checked out Meetup.com for the active groups in the area? There are quite a few hat may cover your areas of interest and would be a way to make new friends. If you want to explore the Smokies, getting involved with a Meetup would let you hike along with people who have experience on the trails.

[DaveC20853]

I will second on checking out Meetup.

This is the south and many people are deeply religious. But many/most are accepting of other belief systems. I always phrase it as "What works for me may not work for you". Politics are conservative. I just shy away from those that consider liberals "enemies of the state". I've met a few.

Plenty of entertainment and dining in West Knox. Downtown is only a 25 minute drive away and has plenty of entertainment and dining and is very walkable.

Here is a link to an apartment guide for west knox:

https://www.knoxvilleapartmentguide....st%20Knoxville

[JOinGA]

You might check these pages out for info on adult sports: https://www.knoxssc.com. https://www.knoxcounty.org/parks/team_sports_nav.php. Athletics Department - City of Knoxville

[Serious Conversation]

IMO, the best place to live in east TN is Farragut, followed by west Knoxville if you want slightly more urban. Keep in mind Farragut is affluent suburban, and is going to be older and more family oriented than you might want.

[onetoughkitty]

West Knox/Farragut/Hardin Valley/Bearden/Bluegrass: very family orientated, very suburban. You can check out Smoky Mountain Social and Knoxville Sports & Social as well for co-ed sports. Meetup has some great hiking clubs. I think there is a meetup for Urban Adventures too.

I don't go to church. I have friends and coworkers who don't go to church. Church doesn't even register in 99% of my conversations but that really depends on your circle. The only people who mention church are my husband's father's side of the family and even then, I don't think they even go for as religious as they are.

Family orientated young families who can afford it are moving to places listed above. My no-kids-attached friends are looking more towards Old City/Park Ridge/South Knox/Fountain City due to the festivals, lower cost of housing, and up and coming things going on. I would move to the Sequoyah Hills area if I could since it is really close to downtown, convenient to shops, and it's very very nice but MONEY.

I think your rent allowance should be okay even for a house. It's usually the pets that get you.

[bsemler]

Its is not that much cooler or less humid than Houston and yes churches every where can be a problem when let out and traffic can get crazy and traffic cane kevery where here just have to take your time and drive the mountains will be about hour and half depends when you go and which way.and certain parts are crowded but this where the things are that you are looking for.not trying to steer you way just putting my 2 cents if it helps I moved here 4 yrs from NW ohio I love it here and people awesome and no pushing liberal ideas

[JOinGA]

When I was moving from Georgia to Tennessee, a friend said that I should expect the first question everyone would ask me to be "where do you go to church?" Well, he was a native Georgian and his deep southern roots might have given him a different expectation, but the reality is that almost nobody in Knoxville asks me where I go to church. Anytime people have mentioned their church or religion it has been in a friendly, just came up in conversation, way. The people I have met here don't seem judge others on whether or where they go to church, temple or mosque. Church can be a great way to meet people and feel a part of a community, but there are many other ways here as well.