What it's like to live in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge is a small city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Oak Ridge deals with above-average rainfall, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Oak Ridge compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Oak Ridge
Based on Oak Ridge's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,262
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,240 a year
- 39% of Oak Ridge renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$54,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,020
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 20% below US
$1,131/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,131 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $270,200. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $270,200 · 39% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 21% below US
3.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
314 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1195/100k · Oak Ridge Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 12% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 40% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Obed Wild & Scenic River (20 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Oak Ridge's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are above-average rainfall and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city. A year of median rent ($1,131/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near Oak Ridge
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