The Best Towns In Tennessee For A Retiree

Aside from being one of a few states without an income tax, the state of Tennessee, as per RentCafe, had an overall cost of living that was 10% below the national average in January 2026. The biggest benefits to a retiree are housing, healthcare, transportation and utilities — all basic necessities with average costs that are 17%, 13%, 12%, and 11% lower than the national average, respectively. Both food and miscellaneous goods and services are also more affordable, tied at 4% lower than the national average

As per the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), the average home price in the U.S. as of February 2026 was $700,102, and according to Zillow, the national average for rent is $1,995 per month. Luckily, certain Tennessee towns can offer a reprieve from national prices. In fact, 13 towns in particular — Kingston Springs, Cookeville, Maryville, Gray, Chattanooga, Crossville, Gallatin, Johnson City, Memphis, Paris, Kingsport, Waynesboro and Union City — are more affordable than you might think, making them among the best places to retire.

According to Redfin, the median price of a home in Kingston Springs was $385,000 in January 2026, an amount around $315,000 less than the January 2026 national average. The average rent, as per Zillow, was just $1,356 per month in February 2026, or roughly $620 lower than the U.S. national average. According to Payscale, the overall cost of living in Kingston Springs is 21% lower than the national average, with utilities and transportation working out to 3% and 10% below the national average. The biggest winner for retirees, however, is housing, which is 37% lower than the U.S. national average.

Kingston Springs offers retirees a small town appeal with green space, water activities, and great areas for hiking. For more big city excitement, you could head over to Nashville just 30 minutes from the town. Kingston Springs even has a seniors association and several senior activity centers with over 200 programs related to sports, art and crafts, fitness, or learning. 

The average rent in Cookeville, as per Apartments.com, was just $892 per month, or roughly $1,100 lower than the U.S. national average as of January 2026. According to Zillow, the average value of a home in Cookeville was $310,309 in January 2026, an amount around $390,000 less than the national average. According to Payscale, the total cost of living in Cookeville is 13% lower than the national average, with groceries, transportation, utilities, and housing working out to 4%, 12%, 16% and 25% below the national average, respectively. 

Retirees can enjoy state parks like Burgess Falls with multiple acres of green space decorated with waterfalls rising as high as 250 feet. Socialize with other retirees or your partner at a local distillery or brewing company, or go shopping for antiques in town.

According to Zillow, the median price of a home in Maryville was $380,031 in January 2026, an amount $320,071 less than the January 2026 national average. The average rent in the town, as per Apartments.com was just $1,213 per month, or roughly $779 lower than the U.S. national average. According to BestPlaces, the cost of living in Maryville has an overall cost of living index 14.5% lower than the national average, with groceries, utilities, and housing working out to 1.6%, 5.5% and 13.2% below the national average.

Maryville offers retirees local amenities such as Blount Memorial Hospital and an athletic center to keep you healthy in older age, truck shows, bingo nights, and a high population of seniors to enjoy your time with. 

According to Redfin, the median price of a home in Chattanooga is $351,000, an amount $349,102 less than the January 2026 national average. The average rent in Chattanooga, as per Zillow was just $1,595 per month in February 2026, or roughly $400 lower than the U.S. national average. According to Payscale, the cost of living in Chattanooga is 12% lower than the national average, transportation and utilities are tied at 11% lower than the national average, with groceries and housing working out to 3% and 23% below the national average, respectively.

Chattanooga's selling point includes interstate highway access to Nashville or the mountains in North Carolina — there are some pretty decent spots to retire in North Carolina, too — with multiple healthcare facilities like the second highest ranked hospital in the state and the Parkridge Health System, which includes five more hospitals. All this really makes Chattanooga one of the best college towns for retirement. 

According to Zillow, in January 2026, the median price of a home in Crossville was $298,863, an amount $401,239 lower than the January 2026 national average. The average rent in Crossville was just $1,689 per month, or roughly $306 lower than the U.S. national average. According to BestPlaces, the cost of living in Crossville is 15.1% lower than the national average, with monthly expenses of $2,067 making it 56.6% cheaper to live in than most places in the U.S. On the BestPlaces cost of living index, groceries are 4.8%, goods and services are 9.6%, utilities are 12.6%, and housing is 29% less expensive than the national average. 

Crossville happens to be the golf capital of the state, with nine courses to practice your golf swing. That said, there are good reasons why retirees may want to reconsider purchasing an RV. Luckily, a handful of retirement communities like Uplands Village or the Gardens RV Community are even top rated.

According to Redfin, the price of a home in Gallatin is $435,000, an amount $265,102 lower than the January 2026 national average. The average rent, as per Apartments.com, was just $1,334 per month in February 2026, or $661 lower than the U.S. national average. According to Payscale, the cost of living in Gallatin is 25% lower than the national average, with utilities, transportation, and housing costing 3%, 10%, and 47% less than the national average.

From farmers' markets, to fishing or boating on the Cumberland River, retirees have a number of ways to keep themselves busy and entertained in Gallatin. Birdwatch on nature hikes, or just enjoy the serenity of the countryside. According to the Ashton Real Estate Group, getting around is relatively easy, with an average commute to anywhere in Gallatin taking around 24 minutes in town where 85% of residents take their vehicles to work. If you take public transit, you'll save $2.25 on your fare with a senior discount. 

According to Redfin, the median price of a home in Johnson City was $358,050, as of February 2026, an amount $342,052 lower than the January 2026 national average. The average rent in Johnson City, as per Apartment.com, was just $993 per month in February 2026, or $1,002 lower than the U.S. national average. According to RentCafe, although living in Johnson City is 8% higher than the state average, it's still 3% lower than the national average. Housing, food, utilities, healthcare and transportation are 2%, 5%, 9%, 12% and 14% lower than the national average Johnson City.

There are lots of healthcare options, including Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Johnson City Medical Center and the highly rated James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. Farmers' markets and festivals like the Blue Plum Festival offer something to do, along with local cafés, a gallery and museum, and a handful of national parks. 

The average rent in Memphis, as per RentCafe, is just $892 per month as of February 2026, or $1,103 lower than the U.S. national average. According to Zillow, the average value of a home in Memphis was $141,489 in January 2026, an amount approximately $558,613 less than the January 2026 national average. According to Payscale, the total cost of living in Memphis is 11% lower than the national average, with groceries, transportation, utilities, and housing working out to 1%, 13%, 15% and 16% below the national average, respectively. 

Aside from the affordability factor, Memphis is the home of Beale Street, with blues bars and BBQ joints aplenty. The National Civil Rights Museum and music festivals help round out the cultural offerings for retirees in the area.

According to Zillow, the average price of a home in Paris was $201,120 in January 2026, an amount $498,982 less than the January 2026 national average. The average rent in Paris, as per Zumper, was $850 per month, or $1,145 lower than the U.S. national average during the same time frame. According to BestPlaces, the overall cost of living in Paris is 60.1% less expensive than the national average, with an individual requiring just $1,900 per month, or $22,800 per year in expenses.

Local entertainment includes a fish fry festival — there are even catfish statues related to this popular event — local bakeries and restaurants, and Paris Landing State Park with hiking trails, swimming areas, and a golf course. There's also an affordable retirement community with a mock Eiffel Tower Park worth considering. 

According to Zillow, the average price of a home in Kingsport was $247,448 in February 2026, which was $452,654 less than the January 2026 national average. The average rent in Kingsport, as per Zumper, was just $1,300 per month, or $695 lower than the U.S. national average. According to BestPlaces, the cost of living in Kingsport is 20.8% lower than the national average. An individual retiree would spend an average $2,100 per month or $25,200 per year. That represents 55.9% lower expenses to the national average. Kingsport is also less expensive in comparison to the state, with a cost of living 11% lower than the state average.

Your proximity to state parks like Warriors' Path State Park and 3,500 acre nature reserve Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, means you always have the serenity of the natural world to keep you engaged. The Holston River opens the door for water activities. 

According to Realtor.com, in January 2026, the median price of a home in Waynesboro is $252,000. This amount is $448,102 lower than the national average. According to BestPlaces, the average one bedroom in Waynesboro is $610. The cost of living in Waynesboro is 25.3% lower than the national average, with monthly expenses of $2,033 making it 57.4% cheaper to live here than the national average. The cost of living is so good it's actually 16.9% lower than even the state average.

In terms of local amenities, there's a City Park and Pool, a recreational park, and a number of fitness centers to keep you spry into your old age.  

With the minimum savings required to live in Southern states in 2026, according to the Economic Research Institute (ERI), Union City should be on any retiree's radar. The cost of living is 28% lower than the national average extends to the state level, with a cost of living also 18% below the state average. The median home price in Union City is just $138,400, which compared to the national average is a savings of $561,702. As per Zillow Rentals, the average rent in Union City as of February 2026 is $950. That's $1,045 cheaper than the January 2026 national average.