Life in the Tennessee mountains is pretty darn sweet, and you’ll find no shortage of affordable mountain towns in Tennessee if you’re considering relocating. The entirety of Tennessee is pretty affordable, but when it comes right down to it, there are a few places scattered across the state you’d rather live in than others. With the Great Smoky Mountains to the east, we wouldn’t blame you for wanting that gorgeous mountain view outside your bedroom window, so we found ourselves a few fantastic Tennessee mountain towns that are perfect for putting down roots in the South. Do you call any of them home?

1. Wears Valley
Wears Valley, TN 37862, USA
Kevin Oliver - Flickr
Wears Valley is known for its secret entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it wears its mantle of fame with pride and a perfectly beautiful rural setting. Take a peek at why Wears Valley is the best mountain town in Tennessee.
2. Pittman Center
Pittman Center, TN, USA
Wikipedia/Brian Stansberry
Located in Sevier County, Pittman Center is another tiny spot in the mountains in Tennessee that's home to only a few hundred folks. Pretty and affordable, you can find yourself a little house and start homesteading real quick in this spot.
3. Townsend
Townsend, TN 37882, USA
Lee Coursey - Flickr
Townsend has quickly become one of the most popular mountain towns in Tennessee. It has a booming tourism industry and boasts some of the prettiest sunsets in the state, making a drive down these country roads something you'll want to experience as many times as you can. Find out why Townsend has been named the best small town in Tennessee.

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4. Walland
Walland, TN 37886, USA
Kevin Oliver - Flickr
You may know Walland because of the ever-popular Blackberry Farm and its close vicinity to Townsend. There are less than 300 people in this darling town, one that's known for its pastoral scenes and kind locals.

5. Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Flickr/Elizabeth
Tucked away in the mountainous topography of the southern part of the state, Chattanooga is a favorite spot for tourists in neighboring Georgia and throughout all of Tennessee. If you decide to visit, don't forget to bring a pair of binoculars to experience all of the gorgeous mountain views. It's also a college town with a booming IT industry, so you may want to put down roots before this town in the mountains in Tennessee explodes. Discover why Chattanooga is the quirkiest town in Tennessee in our previous article.

6. Knoxville
Knoxville, TN, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
Some folks like to live in the big city, and with Knoxville just a stone's throw from the Tennessee mountains, this could be your spot. Although it's not technically located in the heart of the mountains, it is close and could be the best place for you to build a career in the foothills. Find out why Knoxville is one of the best mountain towns to live in Tennessee in our previous article.

7. Tellico Plains
Tellico Plains, TN 37385, USA
Tellico Plains - Wikipedia
Tellico Plains is well-traversed due to its access to the Cherohala Skyway and the Cherokee National Forest. The town itself is itty-bitty, coming in at only 880 folks in 2010, which only adds to the sweetness of the mountain town community. If you want to live in a darling town in the mountains in Tennessee, you've just found it. Find out why Tellico Plains has been called the coolest small town in Tennessee.

Have you been to any of these affordable mountain towns in Tennessee? What do you think are the best mountain towns to live in Tennessee? Let us know in the comments!

Continue to explore your beautiful home state with a visit to a Tennessee covered bridge.

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More to Explore

Affordable Mountain Towns In Tennessee

Beth Price-Williams | June 02, 2022

What are some of the best small towns in Tennessee?

We’ve just highlighted some of the best mountain towns to live in Tennessee, but there are also a whole lot of gorgeous small towns in Tennessee that deserve a look, too. Listed below are four of our favorites.

1. Spring Hill
Spring Hill is absolutely adorable and perfect if you want to live in a charming small town and still be within just 45 minutes of the big city of Nashville.

2. Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle earns props for its old-fashioned charm and historic homes. However, it’s perhaps best known as the site of the annual RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival, a must-visit no matter where in the state you live.

3. Pulaski
With less than 10,000 residents, Pulaski boasts an adorable downtown that offers a peek at yesteryear.

4. Arlington
If you want to be within easy driving distance of Memphis, look no further than the darling town of Arlington. With its many parks, it’s especially popular with nature lovers.

What are the oldest towns in Tennessee?

History buffs will find that our beautiful state is an oasis. The oldest towns in Tennessee deserve a spot on everyone’s bucket list, especially the following four:

1. Franklin
Just outside of Nashville, Franklin dates back to 1799 and is perhaps best known for its adorable downtown. If you’re looking for an affordable town in Tennessee in which to live, this isn’t it. Franklin is an extremely expensive area.

2. Elizabethton
Just like Franklin, Elizabethton also got its start in 1799.

3. Rutledge
Rutledge is just a few years older, incorporating in 1797. It’s a tiny town of less than 1,000 residents.

4. Knoxville
Knoxville got its start in 1791, and it’s a gorgeous mountain town in Tennessee that’s worth a visit or, if you’re looking to relocate, an affordable destination.

If what you're craving in life is to visit an old-fashioned town that’s a throwback to yesteryear, you’ll discover plenty of such small towns in Tennessee. Ripley, Rogersville, and Pikeville all look as though they’ve stepped straight off of an old-fashioned postcard.

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