How to Move to Tennessee for Remote Work

With musical destinations such as Nashville and Memphis and plenty of outdoor attractions like the Smoky Mountains, it's no wonder you might want to make Tennessee your new home!

Tennessee also has a high quality of life. Livibility.com says, "In terms of affordability, Tennessee boasts low unemployment rates, a comfortably low cost of living – and no personal income tax. Its standout quality of life and access to talent make it a hotspot for entrepreneurs."

Interested in moving to Tennessee? Below, we'll cover how to choose your future home within the state, make your move, and connect to your new community.

Step One: Choose a Place to Live

If you're seeking the best places to live in Tennesee for remote workers, start your search by looking through these options.

Rutherford County: Rutherford County includes the city of Murfreesboro, and the surrounding area, southeast of Nashville. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, making it a well-known college town. It's also a great place for growing families and has unique cultural events, like their Main Street Jazzfest. Rutherford County boasts A-ratings in public schools, nightlife, diversity, housing, families, and jobs on Niche.com, and it is also ranked as Niche.com's #4 Best Counties for Young Professionals. Read this article for more information about living in Rutherford County.

Chattanooga: Love the outdoors? Chattanooga is nicknamed "Scenic City" for its beautiful natural surroundings of lakes, rivers, and mountains. Take a trip up Lookout Mountain or walk along the 16.1-mile Chattanooga Riverwalk for an outdoor adventure. The city has undergone a major revitalization, so its downtown area is popular among young professionals. It also has an innovation business district. U.S. News ranked Chattanooga as the #3 Best Place to Live in Tennessee. Read this article for more information about living in Chattanooga.

Brentwood: Brentwood is a suburb of Nashville, just 15 minutes away from all that Music City offers. This safe, upscale suburb has around 42,000 residents. It's a perfect option if you want to be close to Nashville but not live downtown, and it's a safe place for families. Felixhomes.com says, "Young families love Brentwood for its school system, which is consistently ranked the best in the entire state." It's also rated the #1 safest city in Tennessee. Read this article for more information about living in Brentwood.

Germantown: Germantown is an affluent suburb 21 miles south of Memphis, TN. Because of its proximity to Memphis, there are cultural activities nearby, and the city hosts some of unique events like the Germantown Festival. Additionally, they were recognized in 2019 with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. According to GermantownTn.gov, "The city is one of only four municipalities nationwide to have ever received the award." Read this article for more information about living in Germantown.

Kingsport: Kingsport, population 53,000, lies in the northeast corner of Tennessee. According to Livability.com, "The median income in Kingsport, TN is $41,931, and the median home value is $159,483." Kingsport is also rated Niche.com's #1 Best Place To Live in Sullivan County and has A ratings in public schools and families. Read this article for more information about living in Kingsport.

Here are some other great places to live in Tennesee:

If you have a family to consider while making your move, be sure to check out our blog, Remote Work Relocation Considerations for Families.

Step Two: Make Your Move

Ready to make your move? Moving to a different state can be a little trickier than just moving to a new city. In addition to standard moving tasks, here's a short checklist of things you'll want to think about when moving out of state:

If you currently have a remote position, you might also want to check out our Guide to Moving While Working Remotely.

Step Three: Make Your Move

Tennessee can be a great place to live for remote workers! There are several incentives to work remotely in Tennessee: receive $10,000 in student loan payment to move to Rutherford County, or be a part of Chattanooga's new developing program for move incentives.

Regus also lists some great coworking spaces in these areas, which offer opportunities for you to build your community!

Additional Considerations

There's no state income tax in the state of Tennessee! However, the current sales tax is pretty high due to it being a tourist destination.

Here's Smartasset.com's overview of Tennessee's state taxes:

"Tennessee has no income tax on salaries and wages. However, for the 2020 tax year, the state levied a 1% flat-rate tax on all income earned from interest and dividends. Beginning with the 2021 tax year, this tax will be repealed. Tennessee also has the highest overall average sales tax in the country, while homeowners in the state pay some of the lowest property taxes in the nation."

Looking for Remote Work?

If you'd like to have a job that lets you enjoy all Tennessee has to offer, you might consider a remote position. At Make My Move, we have a blog that lists over 100 companies offering remote work.

More Moving Resources

If you're still exploring states to choose for your future home, check out our other guides:

We also have a comprehensive moving checklist you can customize to plan your move.