What are some benefits of moving to Tennessee from Texas?
Tennessee and Texas have many similarities including the temperate climate with hot summers and milder winters, but Tennessee has a lot of benefits if you are thinking of relocating. Texas has a flatter landscape than Tennessee, but both are wooded in many parts of the state. Let’s take a look at the cost of living in Tennessee vs Texas. In general, people are moving from Texas to Tennessee because of the cheaper cost of living. In 2019, more Texans moved to Tennessee than any other state except Florida!
Housing Market in Texas
In general, houses cost a bit less in Tennessee compared to Texas. 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 that is moving with you then 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 Texas. As well as a comparison of the capital cities of Nashville vs Austin. 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 7-31-2022, 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 Texas
$315,235 (Cost of Home)
+22.1% (12-month change)
95.1% (cost compared to $331,533 national average)
15.9% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in Texas is also higher than it was a year ago. The annual growth in cost (as a percentage) is actually lower than that of Tennessee. This is due in part to the fact that prices in Texas started off higher than in Tennessee, to begin with, which makes it harder for it to climb at the same rate as a cheaper state that had more room to grow from the start.
Housing Costs in Nashville, TN
$420,533 (Cost of Home)
+28.3% (12-month change)
126.8% (compared to $331,533 national average)
1.73% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in Nashville 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 Nashville for less money than the average house in Austin.
Housing Costs in Austin, TX
$661,337 (Cost of Home)
+15.2% (12-month change)
199.5% (compared to $331,533 national average)
3.0% (population growth)
ANALYSIS: On average, the price of a home in Austin is also higher than it was a year ago. It is not cheaper than the national average home in the United States. This would explain part of the allure of moving to Tennessee from many other locations.
Cost of Living comparison:
- North Carolina vs Tennessee
- Arizona vs Tennessee
- Florida vs Tennessee
- Kentucky vs Tennessee
- Illinois vs Tennessee
- California vs Tennessee
Tax Rates in Texas
Overall, out of all fifty States, Texas is ranked 32nd 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 Texas simply based on taxes.
Let’s break it down a little bit more…
Total Tax Burden
8.22% | Texas (32nd highest out of 50)
5.75% | Tennessee (2nd lowest out of 50… only Alaska is lower)
Income taxes
0.00% | Texas (44th highest out of 50)
0.06% | Tennessee (43rd highest out of 50)
Sales taxes
4.15% | Texas (11th highest out of 50)
3.98% | Tennessee (14th highest out of 50)
Property taxes
3.97% | Texas (9th highest out of 50)
1.71% | Tennessee (2nd lowest out of 50… only Alabama is lower)
ANALYSIS: There is not a huge marginal difference in taxes between Tennessee and Texas, except in property taxes. In every other category, Tennessee and Texas rank similarly, but for Texas property, you’ll have to pay a higher price.
Average Monthly Utility Bills in Tennessee vs Texas
The truth is Tennessee and Texas rank similarly when it comes to utility bills. Generally, the average prices only differ by no more than $10.
Total Utilities
$298 | Texas (28th highest out of 50)
$305 | Tennessee (24th highest out of 50)
Water Bill
$130 | Texas
$126 | Tennessee
Electricity Bill
$37 | Texas
$43 | Tennessee
Distance from Tennessee to Texas
The distance between Texas and Tennessee is pretty far, but how far exactly? The answer is…it varies.
If you were to drive between the capital cities of Nashville and Austin, you would travel roughly 860 miles.
But Texas and Tennessee are both wide states, so this distance could be longer or shorter. For example, if you drove from one of the cities farther west in Texas, El Paso, to one of the cities farther east in Tennessee, Bristol, you would drive 1,588 miles, about 700 more than between Austin and Nashville and a 22-hour drive without any stops. On the flip side, if you drove from Memphis, a city far west in Tennessee, to Jefferson, a city in east Texas, you would only drive 334 miles in about 4 hours.
Because Texas and Tennessee are both such large states, the distance between travel destinations can differ by over 1,000 miles.
Is There a Time Change Between Tennessee and Texas?
Between Tennessee and Texas, they cover a range of three time zones, but the majority of both states are in Central Standard Time.
For Tennessee, the Western part of the state is situated in the Central Standard Time (CST) zone as is almost all of Texas. Once you travel east past exit 340 on Interstate 40 (Rockwood, TN), you will enter the Eastern Time (EST) zone, which is one hour different from the Central Time zone of most of Texas.
Two counties in Texas, however, El Paso and Hudspeth, observe Mountain Time (MST), which is one hour behind Central Time and two hours behind Eastern Time.
Living in Tennessee vs Texas
Pace of Life
Since Tennessee and Texas are both in the south, the pace of both states is going to be similar. Both states have popular sporting teams and events and have that Southern charm of life people look for!
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.
Are you and your family ready to make the move to Tennessee?