Knoxville, Tennessee has become a national relocation headline. Recent migration forecasts project Knoxville as one of the most moved to cities in the United States heading into 2026. Population growth data confirms the trend. People are not just talking about Knoxville. They are choosing it. https://www.wvlt.tv/2025/11/08/knoxville-predicted-be-most-popular-city-move-2026-study-says/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
At Monarch Realty LLC, we believe relocation success requires more than headlines. It requires data, local interpretation, and an understanding of how neighborhoods, pricing behavior, and buyer psychology are actually changing on the ground.
This analysis is based on a large Knox County MLS dataset of more than 30,000 closed residential sales from January 2022 through December 2025, with early January 2026 data included. Rather than relying on averages or sound bites, we focus on medians, trends, and submarket shifts to explain what is really happening and what relocating buyers and sellers should expect next.
If you are considering a move to Knoxville, or if you are selling a home that needs to stand out to out of state buyers, this perspective matters.
The market in one sentence
From 2022 to 2025, Knoxville became more expensive, but the market also slowed meaningfully. Buyers gained negotiating power, and time on market expanded.
The headline stats (2022 to 2025)
Using median values to reflect a typical sale:
- Median sold price increased from $338,000 to $397,000
- Median list price increased from $330,000 to $399,900
- Median price per square foot rose from $189.39 to $216.19
- Median days on market increased from 4 days to 18 days
- Median home size increased modestly from 1,868 to 1,908 square feet
What this means in plain English: prices rose, but buyers became more payment sensitive as interest rates normalized. The urgency of 2022 cooled into a more deliberate and strategic market by 2024 and 2025.
Sales volume over time: how the market rhythm changed
Knoxville real estate is seasonal, but the pattern shifted during this cycle.
In 2022, homes moved extremely fast. Median days on market often hovered around three to four days, and summer months produced peak transaction volume.
By 2024 and 2025, normalization set in. Median days on market expanded into the teens and twenties in many months. Prices remained resilient, but buyer behavior changed.
Buyers became more selective. They requested concessions more frequently. Condition, layout, and location mattered again.
A quick data literacy note
Occasionally, monthly mean metrics show unusual spikes. These are often driven by data entry anomalies, such as incorrect square footage. Median values and trimmed averages provide a far more reliable view of market behavior. All interpretations in this analysis rely on those more stable measures.
Where are buyers going? Submarket shifts inside Knox County
Relocating to Knoxville is not a single decision. It involves choosing between urban convenience, suburban growth corridors, and emerging value areas.
Using ZIP coded submarkets as a practical proxy, the largest share gains from 2022 to 2025 occurred in:
- Hardin Valley
- Karns
- Powell
- Downtown Knoxville and the University of Tennessee area
- East Knoxville
The largest share declines occurred in:
- Halls
- North Knoxville
- West Knoxville (37922)
- Cedar Bluff
This does not indicate weakness in declining share areas. Instead, it reflects where inventory and new construction were available to meet demand.
Where is Knoxville building the most?
New construction closings provide one of the clearest indicators of future growth patterns.
From 2022 through 2025, the highest concentrations of new construction closings occurred in:
- Hardin Valley
- Karns
- Halls
- Powell
- East Knoxville
- West Knoxville (37922)
- South Knoxville
- Farragut
This confirms that much of Knoxville’s recent growth has been supply led. Builders are producing homes where land availability, zoning feasibility, and buyer demand intersect.
What the numbers reveal about real behavior
Relocators are optimizing for payment and functionality, not just purchase price. As affordability tightened, buyers shifted away from urgency and toward precision.
Newer homes with modern layouts gained favor, particularly in growth corridors. This is especially relevant for out of state buyers who cannot tour dozens of properties in person.
Downtown Knoxville continues to grow from a smaller base, reflecting lifestyle driven demand for walkability and proximity to employment and amenities.
Sellers are adjusting to a new reality. Pricing strategy, condition, preparation, and professional marketing once again determine outcomes.
What to expect in 2026
No forecast is a promise, but responsible expectations can be set.
For 2026, the most likely scenario includes:
- Prices remaining flat to modestly higher in most submarkets
- Days on market staying elevated compared to 2022, with improvement for well positioned homes
- A widening performance gap between well prepared listings and those relying on outdated pricing expectations
Knoxville’s relocation story remains strong, but success now favors planning over urgency.
The bottom line for relocators and sellers
Knoxville continues to attract attention nationally, but the market has matured. Buyers are deliberate. Sellers must be strategic. Preparation matters.
Relocators who understand submarket dynamics, inventory realities, and negotiation strategies hold a meaningful advantage.
Sellers who want to reach out of state buyers must focus on clarity, confidence, and presentation.
At Monarch Realty LLC, we specialize in relocation to East Tennessee and in positioning homes to perform in a market shaped by migration. Our approach combines MLS level data, neighborhood expertise, and relocation focused marketing to help clients make informed, confident decisions.
Calls to action
Relocating to Knoxville or East Tennessee?
Request our Knoxville Relocation Shortlist based on commute, lifestyle, and budget.
Ask about our virtual home tour and contract strategy process designed for out of state buyers.
Selling and want to reach relocation buyers?
Ask about our Relocation First Listing Launch built to attract and convert today’s national buyer pool.