What are some benefits of moving to Tennessee from North Carolina?
Tennessee and North Carolina have many similarities including the mountainous landscape, but Tennessee has a lot of benefits if you are thinking of relocating. Another benefit of moving to East Tennessee is that the time zone is the same as North Carolina, they both operate on Eastern Time while Nashville is only an hour behind operating on Central Time. Let’s take a closer look at the cost of living in North Carolina vs Tennessee.
Pace of Life
Since Tennessee and North Carolina are both in the south, the pace of both states is going to be similar. According to the U.S. Census Bureau If you are looking for a place to live that feels close to North Carolina, Tennessee would be the perfect state for you!
Outdoor Activities
In Tennessee, there are so many opportunities to find activities outside. One of the top activities would be hiking. Tennessee has so many opportunities for hiking; if you are looking for something close by, you are sure to find some trails to hike, or if you are wanting to travel an hour or two, there are so many more trails to choose from! A summer activity would be finding a lake nearby. Depending on where you live in Tennessee, you could be close to a lake or a short drive away; either way, lake days in Tennessee are some of the best days spent with friends and family.
Distance from Tennessee to North Carolina
The distance from Tennessee to North Carolina is relatively short considering the states are beside each other, but travel time can depend on where you are starting out and where you are wanting to end up.
If you travel between the capitals of each state, you will travel 539 miles, which would be around an 8-hour drive. If you wanted to stay closer to North Carolina, the distance from Knoxville to Raleigh is only 360 miles and would be around a 5 and half-hour drive. The distance from Knoxville to Charlotte is only 231 miles, and the drive would be around 4 hours.
Since Tennessee and North Carolina are so close to each other, the distance between them is relatively small, though this also depends on what part of North Carolina you are leaving.
Is There a Time Change Between Tennessee and North Carolina?
If you stay in East Tennessee, there is no time change. East Tennessee and North Carolina both operate in Eastern Standard Time (EST). If you choose to live somewhere in Middle or West Tennessee, you will operate on Central Standard Time (CST), which is only an hour behind EST.
Cost of Living in Tennessee vs. North Carolina
Another benefit to Tennessee is the cost of living is cheaper than in North Carolina. When searched, the cost of living is less, in most aspects, in Knoxville as compared to Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Compared to Raleigh, Knoxville’s median home cost is 25% cheaper while Knoxville’s is 17% lower than Charlotte’s. The cost of living in Knoxville is also 14.5% cheaper than the national average.
Knoxville, TN
Charlotte, NC
Cost of Living Comparison:
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- Florida vs Tennessee
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Housing in Tennessee vs. North Carolina
In general, houses cost a bit less in Tennessee compared to North Carolina. There are several reasons for that, so feel free to check out the best places to live in Tennessee if you want to compare the way of life between the two. If you have a family be sure to check out the best place to live in Tennessee for families.
However, in terms of house costs, see below for a comparison of the state of Tennessee vs North Carolina. As well as a comparison of the bigger cities of Knoxville vs Charlotte. We are confident that seeing the analysis of these comparisons will help you understand the differences in housing costs.
*All of the following housing cost numbers are as of 09-12-2022, according to Zillow.
Average Housing Cost in Tennessee
- $277,805 (Cost of Home)
- +25.7% (12-month change)
- 83.8% (cost compared to $331,533 national average)
- 0.84% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in Tennessee is higher than it was a year ago. It is still cheaper than the average home in the United States. This would explain part of the allure of moving to Tennessee from many other locations.
Average Housing Cost in North Carolina
- $322,986 (Cost of Home)
- +25.8% (12-month change)
- 97.4% (cost compared to $331,533 national average)
- 1.1% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in North Carolina is also higher than it was a year ago. The annual growth in cost (as a percentage) is 0.1% higher than that of Tennessee. Even though there is a small percentage difference in the price difference, the average price of a home is significantly higher than that of Tennessee.
Average Housing Cost in Knoxville
- $335,997 (Cost of Home)
- +27.9 (12-month change)
- 101.3% (cost compared to $331,533 national average)
- 1.98% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in Knoxville is higher than it was a year ago, and also more expensive than the average home in the United States. However, you can still find a house in Knoxville for less money than the average house in Charlotte.
Average Housing Cost in Charlotte
- $403,137 (Cost of Home)
- +26.6% (12-month change)
- 121.5% (cost compared to $331,533 national average)
- 3.38% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in Charlotte is also higher than it was a year ago. It is not cheaper than the average home in the United States. This would explain part of the allure of moving to Tennessee from many other locations.
Tax Rates in North Carolina vs Tennessee
Overall, out of all fifty United States, North Carolina is ranked 35 out of 50 for the highest total tax burden, while Tennessee is 49th. Right off the bat, you can tell that there is a slight difference in the cost of living in Tennessee vs North Carolina simply based on taxes.
Let’s break it down a little bit more…
Total Tax Burden
- 8.16% | North Carolina (16th lowest out of 50)
- 5.75% | Tennessee (2nd lowest out of 50… only Alaska is lower)
Income taxes
- 2.65% | North Carolina (16th highest out of 50)
- 0.06% | Tennessee (43rd highest out of 50)
Sales taxes
- 3.32% | North Carolina (28th highest out of 50)
- 3.98% | Tennessee (14th highest out of 50)
Property taxes
- 2.19% | North Carolina (9th lowest out of 50)
- 1.71% | Tennessee (2nd lowest out of 50… only Alabama is lower)
ANALYSIS: There is quite a difference in taxes between Tennessee and North Carolina, except in sales taxes. In every other category, Tennessee’s taxes are lower, but for North Carolina’s sales tax, you’ll pay less.
Average Monthly Utility Bills in Tennessee vs North Carolina
The truth is Tennessee’s utility bills are higher than in North Carolina. Generally, the average prices only differ by no more than $25.
Total Utilities
- $277 | North Carolina (35th out of 50)
- $305 | Tennessee (24th out of 50)
Water Bill
- $20 | North Carolina
- $43 | Tennessee
Electricity Bill
- $114 | North Carolina
- $126 | Tennessee
| TENNESSEE | NORTH CAROLINA | |
| Water Bill | $43 | $20 |
| Electricity Bill | $126 | $114 |
| Total | $305 | $277 |
Weather in Tennessee vs. North Carolina
Another thing to consider is the weather in both cities. With Knoxville being close to the Smokey Mountains, you will see, on average, lower temperatures and the possibility of more snow. So, let’s look at the differences.
Summer Weather
On average, the summer high in Knoxville is around 88 degrees while in Charlotte, the summer high is around 90 degrees. Knoxville gets an average of 50 inches of rain per year while Charlotte gets an average of 43 inches yearly.
Winter Weather
In the winter, the average low temperature in Knoxville is around 28 degrees while in Charlotte, the average low temperature is around 30 degrees. Knoxville will see around 6 inches of snow each year while Charlotte will see around 2 inches. Are you ready to make Tennessee your new home?