Knoxville receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Knoxville
Philadelphia
Opportunity
63 · Top 34%
vs61 · Top 38%
Growth
75 · Top 7%
vs53 · Bottom 49%
Climate
77 · Top 24%
vs71 · Top 47%
Physical resilience
73 · Top 26%
vs71 · Top 28%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 45%
vs69 · Top 48%
Access
96 · Bottom 45%
vs98 · Top 26%
Economic stability
44 · Bottom 23%
vs43 · Bottom 19%
Measured values
| Metric | Knoxville | Philadelphia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 195,185 | 1,579,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,039 | $61,953 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,408 | $38,905 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,977/sq mi | 11,760/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $239,700 | $243,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,191 | $1,397 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 46.6% | 51.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | 2.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.6% | 35.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 21.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,738 | 4,599 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.0 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -9.9% | 72.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.9" | 45.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 34.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.5 | 35.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Knoxville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Philadelphia
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Knoxville
70
Your Score
71
Area Score
Philadelphia
67
Your Score
67
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Knoxville, TN · Philadelphia, PA · How this is calculated: methodology