Cost of Living & Housing in Knoxville
Knoxville's cost of living centers on genuinely affordable housing relative to national norms, offset by an effective property tax rate that runs meaningfully above the national median.
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Learn moreAffordable housing, with a real cross-source spread
Knoxville's housing figures carry a real, disclosed cross-source spread: Zillow's own typical home value ran approximately $181,634, while Ownwell's own median home price ran lower, approximately $153,470 -- both genuinely affordable relative to national norms (base record).
A 1.67% effective property tax rate and a $2,418 median bill
Knoxville's own 1.67% effective property tax rate (Ownwell) runs meaningfully above the national median (~1.02%), producing a $2,418 median annual tax bill, modestly above the $2,400 national median bill (base record).
Iowa's 3.8% flat income tax and no local-option add-on
Iowa's real, current flat individual income tax rate is 3.8% on all taxable income for tax year 2026, with no local-option city or county income tax anywhere in the state and a full exemption for Social Security and qualifying retirement income for residents 55 and older (base record).
Confirm current rent and employer data directly
A reliable, city-specific median rent figure and a confirmed, current named-employer list for Knoxville were not found with confidence this pass -- confirm both directly with a local property manager and the Knoxville Area Chamber of Commerce (base record).
Key takeaways
- Knoxville's housing runs genuinely affordable nationally, with a real, disclosed cross-source spread ($153,470-$181,634 depending on source).
- Knoxville's own 1.67% effective property tax rate produces a $2,418 median annual bill, above the national median.
- Iowa's 3.8% flat income tax and full Social Security/55+ retirement-income exemption apply in Knoxville as they do statewide.
- A confirmed, current rent figure and named-employer list were not found with confidence this pass -- confirm both directly.
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