Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Oak Ridge, TN

    Is Oak Ridge a good place to live?

    Watch Oak Ridge

    Oak Ridge ranks #7 of 28 Tennessee cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (62/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 1.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $233,500
    +10.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,076
    per month
    Household income
    $71,000
    median
    Unemployment
    4.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Oak Ridge

    The median home value in Oak Ridge is $233,500 and median rent is $1,076 a month, against a median household income of $71,000. Homes cost about 3.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Oak Ridge crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Tennessee the 2025 rate was 499 violent and 1,661 property crimes per 100,000 people — #14 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Oak Ridge, TN

    Oak Ridge has about 32,088 residents, 4.7% unemployment and 22% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Oak Ridge with

    Oak Ridge vs NashvilleOak Ridge vs MemphisOak Ridge vs KnoxvilleOak Ridge vs ChattanoogaOak Ridge vs ClarksvilleOak Ridge vs MurfreesboroOak Ridge vs FranklinOak Ridge vs Johnson City

    More: Where to move in Tennessee · Best counties in Tennessee

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report