Tennessee Ranked One of the Worst States to Live In? Here’s What CNBC Gets Wrong
When CNBC recently ranked Tennessee among the 10 worst states to live in, I wasn’t surprised to see the headlines. Rankings like these generate clicks, but they rarely tell the whole story. As a Middle Tennessee Realtor who has helped families relocate here for years and someone who personally chose to make Tennessee home, I wanted to share a different perspective.
Why I Chose to Move to Tennessee
More than 17 years ago, I visited Franklin for my cousin’s wedding and completely fell in love with the area. The charm of the historic downtown, the rolling hills, and the genuine kindness of the people made an impression I couldn’t shake.
Within a year, my husband and I packed up and moved to Tennessee.
On moving day, neighbors came over to help break down moving boxes. Someone baked us fresh cookies. Another neighbor showed up with a cooler full of beer, welcomed us to the neighborhood, and eventually became one of my first clients.
Has Tennessee grown since then? Absolutely.
Has every community stayed exactly the same? Of course not. But one thing I still find to be true is that kindness and community remain part of the culture here.
Why So Many People Love Living in Middle Tennessee
If you’ve spent any time in Middle Tennessee, it’s easy to understand why so many people continue to relocate here.
Incredible Outdoor Recreation
One of the biggest reasons I love living in Tennessee is the natural beauty.
Unlike many parts of the country, we experience four distinct seasons. We enjoy colorful autumns, blooming springs, warm summers perfect for lake days, and even the occasional snowfall in winter.
Some of my favorite places include:
Fiery Gizzard Trail
Fall Creek Falls State Park
Cummins Falls State Park
Narrows of the Harpeth
Rock Island State Park
Whether you enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, or simply spending time outdoors, Middle Tennessee offers endless opportunities.
Nashville’s Entertainment Scene Is Hard to Beat
Living near Nashville means there’s always something happening.
Of course, Music City is famous for country music, but the entertainment scene goes far beyond that.
Residents enjoy events like:
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Pilgrimage Music Festival
CMA Fest
Along with countless concerts featuring country, rock, pop, indie, jazz, and classical music throughout the year.
Sports fans also have plenty to cheer for with:
Tennessee Titans
Nashville Predators
Nashville SC
Nashville Sounds
There’s rarely a weekend where you can’t find something fun to do.
Excellent Schools in Williamson County
One of the biggest reasons many families choose to relocate to Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, and surrounding communities is the quality of the schools.
While every family’s experience is different, our experience with Williamson County Schools has been exceptional.
Education has always been important to my family, and we’ve been consistently impressed with both the teachers and the community.
Williamson County Schools also consistently ranks among Tennessee’s highest-performing public school districts, with:
Top-rated academic performance
Strong reading and math proficiency scores
Approximately 96% graduation rate
National recognition among top-performing school districts
For many buyers, access to excellent schools is a major factor when deciding where to live.
What Rankings Can’t Measure
This is where I think national rankings often miss the mark.
It’s difficult to assign a score to how it feels to live somewhere.
You can’t easily measure the neighbor who brings dinner after you’ve had a baby.
The family down the street who helps during a snowstorm.
The friendships your children build.
Or the sense of belonging that develops over years of living in a community.
For my family, that’s what has made Middle Tennessee home.
After previously living in Florida, I realized I barely knew my neighbors. Here, we’ve experienced a stronger sense of community, genuine relationships, and people who still show up for one another.
Those qualities may not appear in a CNBC ranking, but they matter deeply when deciding where you want to build your life.
Is Tennessee the Right Place to Live?
No state is perfect.
Tennessee certainly has challenges, just like every other place in the country. Rankings often evaluate factors like healthcare, infrastructure, cost of living, or public policy, and those may matter differently depending on your priorities.
But if you’re looking for:
Beautiful scenery
Strong communities
Outdoor recreation
A thriving music and entertainment scene
Excellent schools in many areas
Friendly neighborhoods
A high quality of life
Then Middle Tennessee deserves a closer look than any headline can provide.
As someone who’s lived here for nearly two decades and helped countless families relocate to the area, I’ve seen firsthand why so many people continue to choose to call Tennessee home.
If you’re considering buying or selling a home in Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, or anywhere in Middle Tennessee, I’d love to help you decide if this area is the right fit for your family.