How affordable is land and property here?

The median home price is $280,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.48%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.

Is broadband internet available?

Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.

Knox County

TN · Pop. 487,401 · Urban County

61/100Homestead Score

Knox County sits in Tennessee across 508 square miles, home to 487,401 people at 959.5 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, sweet corn. The median home price is $280,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.48%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 201-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.7°F and average winter lows of 28.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 51.9 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.48%

Growing Season: 201 days

Broadband: 99.8%

Density: 959.5/sq mi

Pros

A long 201-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
A low effective property tax rate of 0.48% holds annual carrying costs down.
Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
A low unemployment rate of 3% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At 959.5 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Knox County, TN is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score: 61/100
Median home price: $280k
Property tax: 0.48%
Growing season: 201 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall: 51.9"
Broadband: 99.8%
Nearest hospital: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, 2.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.48%

Median Household Income$71,662

Poverty Rate12.2%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$280K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b

Growing Season201 days

Annual Rainfall51.9 inches

Avg Summer High86.7°F

Avg Winter Low28.8°F

Top CropsHay, Haylage, Sweet corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought4/10

Wildfire7/10

Tornado10/10

Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalFort Sanders Regional Medical Center (2.5 mi)

Emergency RoomYes

Healthcare Facilities11

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.8%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3%

Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Knox County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Knox County?: Knox County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 201-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.7°F, and average winter lows of 28.8°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, sweet corn.
How affordable is land and property here?: The median home price is $280,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.48%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?: Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is 2.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 11 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified June 2026

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.