Best Places to Retire in Tennessee: Compare Them by the Numbers (2026)

Most "best places to retire" lists rank towns on somebody else's formula. That formula doesn't know what you can spend or what you want close by, and those two things decide this.

So I don't rank them. These are the numbers I'd put side by side.

How should you compare places to retire in Tennessee?

Start with the monthly housing number you can live with, then decide how close you want a hospital, an airport and a lake. Those two answers cut this list fast.

How much do homes cost in each place?

Median listing prices ran from $247,775 to $1,155,000 across these eight counties in September 2026, and price per square foot ran from $143 to $358.

These are Realtor.com county medians, so a town can run well above or below its county. Median listing size was 3,314 square feet in Williamson County and 1,667 in Shelby County.

Which places have the lowest property tax?

College Grove has the lowest rate on this list, $1.30 per $100 of assessed value, because it's unincorporated and pays only the Williamson County rate. Tennessee taxes homes on 25% of appraised value, so here's what each $100,000 of appraised value costs a year.

Sources: Williamson County, Spring Hill, Maury County, Hamilton County, Kingsport, Sullivan County, Shelby County, Memphis and Murfreesboro. Germantown's city rate of about $1.79 is the budget figure reported flat in June 2026.

Knoxville isn't in the table. Knox County reappraised in 2026, the city moved to cut its rate from $2.1556 to $1.3956, and I couldn't find the county's new rate as of November 1, 2026. Ask the Knox County Trustee.

A low rate on a pricey home can still be the bigger bill. At the county median listing price, a Franklin home outside that district would owe about $4,522 a year, and a Memphis home about $3,273, if each appraised at that price.

Sales tax is 7% at the state level, or 4% on food, and local rates add up to 2.75%. Talk to a tax professional about your own situation. For the state's income tax rules and the property tax programs for people 65 and older, see is Tennessee a good state to retire in.

Property tax figures are the county and city rates published for the year shown and are for planning only. Your actual bill depends on the assessed value, any exemptions and the city or district the home sits in. Confirm with the county assessor or trustee and your tax professional before you rely on a number.

How far is the nearest hospital and airport?

Each town center here is within 22 minutes of a hospital, and the drive to a commercial airport runs from 17 minutes in Nashville to about an hour in Columbia.

Drives are OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) from town centers with no traffic, November 2026. Run yours from the actual address, and check that your doctors and insurance work with that hospital. TriStar Spring Hill ER is a freestanding emergency room with no inpatient beds.

What is the weather like across Tennessee?

Memphis runs warmest of these five weather stations and the Tri-Cities runs coolest, with a normal July high 5.5 degrees lower and a normal January low 7 degrees lower.

These are 1991 to 2020 normals from NOAA at each airport. Nashville's station stands in for the Middle Tennessee towns here. My guide to moving to Tennessee covers storm and flood checks.

Which state parks and lakes are close?

Every place is within about 41 minutes of a Tennessee state park.

Drives are measured the same way, to each park's office.

Are there 55+ communities in these towns?

Yes, in parts of Middle Tennessee, and each community's declaration sets its age rule. Listing sites tag some neighborhoods as 55+ with no rule behind the tag, so my list of Middle Tennessee 55+ communities includes only those with a stated rule, such as Westhaven's active adult section in Franklin and Southern Springs in Spring Hill. Get the recorded declaration, bylaws and rules before you write an offer, and I'll read them with you.

How do you narrow this down from out of state?

Pick two or three places from these tables, then check one address at a time for county, city limits, tax rate and flood map. I work Middle Tennessee, so that's where I can do it myself. Start with Franklin, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, College Grove, Nashville, Columbia or Murfreesboro.

Looking at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Kingsport or the Memphis area? I don't work those markets. I'll interview agents there for free, look at their actual production and send you the ones with a real track record. The interviews are free to you. If you hire a Realtor I refer, I collect a referral fee from their brokerage.

In Middle Tennessee, I'll record a video walkthrough of a home and send it as an unlisted YouTube link, so you can rewatch it and show anyone you want. Here's how I work with out-of-state buyers.

Tell me your budget and the two things you want closest, and I'll help you narrow it down to a county and a price. DM, text or call 615-392-1186, or use the form below.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best place to retire in Tennessee?

The best place is the one that fits your budget and has what you want nearby, so there's no single answer.

What is the cheapest place to retire in Tennessee?

Of the eight counties here, Shelby had the lowest median listing price in September 2026, at $247,775, and the lowest price per square foot, at $143. Memphis also has the highest property tax rate on this list, so run both numbers.

Which of these places has the lowest property tax?

College Grove has the lowest rate here, at $1.30 per $100 of assessed value for 2026, or about $325 a year per $100,000 of appraised value. Thompson's Station is next at $1.403, or about $351.

What part of Tennessee has the best year-round weather?

It depends on whether you'd rather avoid heat or cold. Of these five stations, the Tri-Cities has the lowest normal July high at 86.4 degrees, and Memphis has the mildest normal January low at 33.3.

Are there 55+ communities in Middle Tennessee?

Yes. Age rules come from each community's declaration, so read it before you write an offer.