Cost of Living in Karns, TN
Population 3,835 · Tennessee · Data vintage 2023
(100 = US avg)
Karns sits on the smaller end of the Tennessee city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible. Unemployment has stayed elevated relative to the national figure — 8.5% as of the most recent ACS release — which shows up in household-income and poverty figures as well.
Geographically, Karns sits roughly 9 miles west of Knoxville. Median home values run roughly 33% higher than Knoxville's $214,000.
Cost Overview
Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.
About the Cost of Living in Karns
The median home value in Karns is $284,700 — 7% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,793/month, 36% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $101,161/year is 36% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 8.5%, above the national average of 4.8%. Tennessee charges no state income tax, a meaningful advantage for take-home pay. The climate averages highs of 70.4°F and lows of 49.3°F. Overall, Karns has a cost of living index of 111 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 11% more expensive.
Karns has limited residential data
Detailed housing and income data is limited for this location. Here are the nearest cities with full cost of living data:
🏠 Housing
HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom
💰 Estimated Monthly Budget
Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.
🛒 Food & Groceries
National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.
🚗 Transportation
Commute Mode
⚡ Utilities
📋 Taxes
💼 Income & Employment
🎓 Education
👥 Demographics
🌤 Climate
NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 48 | 53 | 62 | 72 | 80 | 86 | 89 | 88 | 83 | 72 | 60 | 51 |
| Low °F | 30 | 33 | 40 | 48 | 57 | 65 | 69 | 68 | 61 | 49 | 38 | 33 |
| Precip" | 5.07 | 5.59 | 5.12 | 5.20 | 4.07 | 4.55 | 5.54 | 3.46 | 3.83 | 3.12 | 4.62 | 5.36 |
💨 Air Quality
EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Karns, TN?
Karns has a cost index of 111 (100 = national average). It is 11% above the national average.
What is average rent in Karns, TN?
The median gross rent in Karns is $1,793 per month based on 2023 Census data.
What is the average home price in Karns?
The median home value in Karns is $284,700 according to 2023 Census ACS data.
What is the median income in Karns?
The median household income in Karns is $101,161 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).
What is the sales tax in Karns, TN?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in Karns is 9.6%. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Is Karns, TN affordable?
Karns is above average in cost of living, with an index of 111 — about 11% higher than the national average.
What is the weather like in Karns?
Karns has average high temperatures of 70.4°F and average lows of 49.3°F. Annual precipitation is 55.5". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.
Karns at a Glance
- Population
- 3,835
- Median Income
- $101,161
- Home Value
- $284,700
- Median Rent
- $1,793/mo
- Unemployment
- 8.5%
- Avg High Temp
- 70.4°F
- Sales Tax
- 9.6%
Nearby Cities
Explore county-level cost of living data
Tennessee Rankings
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