Tennessee's 7 Best Retirement Towns Ranked
There are plenty of reasons to retire in Tennessee. Some are self-evident, like the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, and Cumberland Mountains, or the views along the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. Beyond its natural beauty, there are also financial perks to retiring in Tennessee! It boasts lower property taxes and no state income tax, making it appealing to retirees on a budget. These remote mountain towns are a great place to sit back with a cold glass of sun tea on your porch while providing all the essential amenities that seniors need.
Crossville
Nestled in the heart of the Cumberland Plateau is the scenic town of Crossville, known for its natural beauty and high-end golf courses. It is considered the Golf Course Capital of Tennessee, with nine premier golf courses, such as the Stonehenge Golf Club and Druid Hills Golf Club. But if you want to experience the mountains of the Cumberland Plateau off the golf course, there’s no better spot than Cumberland Mountain State Park. The park has miles of scenic trails, like the Grundy Day Loop, which is an easy yet beautiful hike through the shaded mountains.
In Crossville, you can feel removed from the noise and traffic of larger cities while still being in the center of it all. Crossville is just 75 miles from Knoxville, which has some of the best hospitals in the state. However, you can also visit local hospitals, like the Cumberland Medical Center, for more immediate care. There are also high-end assisted living facilities in Crossville, like the Cumberland Ridge Assisted Living and the newer Dominion Senior Living of Crossville.
Tullahoma
South of Nashville, towards the southern edge of the state, is Tullahoma, a sleepy Southern town that is perfect for retirees who want a relaxed and easy lifestyle in their golden years. There’s always something fun happening downtown, like Mardi Gras Madness and the August Craft Fair. The Tim’s Ford Event Center is also a great place to catch a community event like the Spring Harvest Market or the Farm to Fork Market. And if you love exploring the natural beauty of Tullahoma, Tim’s Ford Lake is where you can set out on the lake for an afternoon of fishing.
Tullahoma may feel like a remote community in the heart of the mountains, but everything retirees need is right in town. The local hospital, the Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital, offers great care and was awarded four stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. There’s also a myriad of highly-rated assisted living facilities in the area, like the Morning Pointe of Tullahoma and Brookdale Tullahoma.
Loudon
Just south of Knoxville is the village of Loudon, known as the Lakeway to the Smokies. It’s a small, tight-knit community with a population of just over 6,500, with picturesque walkable city streets and inviting storefronts like the Shoppes on the Square and Good Neighbors Shoppe. Traveling outside of the small downtown area, there is a wilderness waiting to be explored. One of the best places to enjoy the beauty of Loudon is Fort Loudoun State Park, where you can explore the ruins of the original British fort built in 1756 or hike the Fort Loudoun Trail, which traces the Tennessee River. And if you love to fish, Tellico Lake is a popular spot for local anglers.
Loudon isn’t too far from some of the top hospitals in the state in Knoxville, but you don’t need to travel outside of this small village for great care. The Fort Loudoun Medical Center is a newer, modern hospital built in 2003 and has earned a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Loudon also has well-regarded and modern assisted living facilities like the Neighborhood at Tellico Village and River Oaks Place.
Dandridge
Ready to spend your golden years in a lakeside retreat that makes every day feel like a vacation? East of Knoxville on the shores of Douglas Lake is the village of Dandridge, the second oldest town in Tennessee. Many of the buildings downtown date back to the early 1800s, like the Shepard’s Inn (a cozy bed and breakfast) and the Hickman Tavern (now the Dandridge Town Hall). This small, walkable city allows residents to shop at cozy shops like the Dandridge General Store or Martha's Market before grabbing dinner at the Dandridge Brewing Company.
Given the small-town vibe of Dandridge, there are no hospitals located downtown. However, you don’t need to travel far for great medical care. Jefferson Memorial Hospital is less than a 20-minute drive from Dandridge and offers excellent medical care in a modern facility. There are also well-regarded nursing homes in the area, such as Jefferson Park at Dandridge. Plus, the Optimus Health Center is a fantastic physical therapy clinic centrally located in the heart of Dandridge.
Gatlinburg
The mountains are calling in Gatlinburg! If you dream of a small town living in the Great Smoky Mountains, it won’t take long to feel like home in Gatlinburg. In the spring, the landscaped city street comes alive when the tulips are in bloom, and residents can engage in friendly local events during the Gatlinburg Springfest. During the season-long festival, you can partake in community events like the Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest and the Gatlinburg Farmers Market. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there’s an annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage that offers professionally guided walks and seminars about the native flowers of the region.
Gatlinburg is a relatively small southern city with a population just shy of 4,000, but it still lands you in the heart of necessary services seniors need. There’s no hospital within city limits, but the LeConte Medical Center is a short 20-minute drive away in the neighboring area of Sevierville, as well as high-end assisted living facilities like Mountain Brook Village. With so many beautiful parks in town, like the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, it’s easy to stay active in Gatlinburg!
Maryville
South of Knoxville is the town of Maryville, which is considered one of the nicest places in Tennessee. With a cost of living about 13 percent lower than the national average and the Great Smoky Mountains practically on your doorstep, there’s no wonder why retirees flock to this unassuming southern city. The mountain views feel secluded, but you don’t have to travel far for essential amenities, like Blount Memorial Hospital, which is centrally located downtown. It also has modern assisted living facilities like Clover Hill Senior Living.
Maryville is so much more than views of the Smokies; it’s just an added bonus! You can catch live shows at Maryville College and the Clayton Center for the Arts, or do all your shopping in one stop at Foothills Mall. Or if you just want to get out and enjoy the views of the Smokies, the Foothills Parkway is a popular spot to take in stunning panoramic overlooks of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Rogersville
Dreaming of remote mountain living in Tennessee? Then look no further than Rogersville, a small community far removed from the bigger cities of Tennessee. While the views are isolated, and the town only has a population of around 4,500 residents, everything you’ll need in your golden years is right at hand. The Hawkins County Memorial Hospital is located downtown, and it’s just a few blocks away from Pro Elite Fitness when you want to stay active. They also have highly rated assisted living facilities in the area, like the newer Signature Lifestyles of Rogersville.
Settled by the grandparents of Davy Crockett in 1775, Rogersville is a historic village that is the perfect spot to call home. The downtown area has cozy brick sidewalks that line old-timey buildings with inviting storefronts like the Mountain Star Mall and Olde Towne Emporium. When you want to explore the open wilderness of Rogersville, Cherokee Lake is a popular spot to fish, swim, or hike the trails of Cherokee National Forest.
Tennessee is a Goldilocks state where the temperature is mild (yet you still get to enjoy all four seasons), the cost of living is much lower than the national average, and your quality of life is high. These towns are a wonderful blend of mountain solitude and strong community bonds. They are off the beaten path, so you don’t have to deal with crowds and traffic, but you are never too far from the essentials like hospitals and retirement communities. When you’re ready to cash in that 401k, these charming towns of Tennessee are worth a look!
