Side-by-side comparison of Knoxville, TN and Nashville, TN — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Knoxville has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.26% compared to Nashville's 3.56%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $280,000 in Knoxville vs $410,000 in Nashville, while rents come in at $1,380/mo and $1,780/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Nashville is growing faster at 1.6% annually vs Knoxville's 1.2%. Nashville leads on home value appreciation at 3.8% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.55% in Knoxville vs 0.56% in Nashville. Vacancy rates of 5.2% and 5.5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Knoxville edges out Nashville on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.26%, Knoxville's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Knoxville or Nashville.