Best Cities for Families in Tennessee
Tennessee ranks #30 of 50 for families, with a families score of 62.5. Franklin is its best city for families at 67.8.
- Tennessee, all states
- #30 of 50
- Population
- 87,133
Tennessee for Families: The Full Picture
Tennessee lands in the middle of the pack for families at #30 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — affordability scores excellent at 78/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. A high school graduation rate of 90.4% is encouraging, and a typical home value of $334,108 is manageable for dual-income households.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Tennessee delivers on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 90.4%, above the national average. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 72/100. Center-based infant care runs $13,926 a year — a meaningful expense, close to the 50-state average.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Tennessee faces elevated crime rates that families should factor into neighborhood selection at 492.3 incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI estimate). The low cost of living (index: 91.9) means family budgets stretch further here than in most states, leaving more room for savings, activities, and college funds.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Families
| # City | Grade | Families score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Franklin | A+ | 67.8 | 69.5 | 71 | 91 | 47 | 87,133 |
| 2Collierville | A+ | 66.6 | 67.6 | 63 | 88 | 61 | 51,515 |
| 3Brentwood | A+ | 65.6 | 68.0 | 60 | 98 | 28 | 45,556 |
| 4Hendersonville | B+ | 62.7 | 61.5 | 63 | 94 | 62 | 63,091 |
| 5Johnson City | C+ | 60.8 | 55.6 | 63 | 65 | 81 | 72,222 |
| 6Spring Hill | A | 60.5 | 63.4 | 61 | — | 57 | 55,765 |
| 7Bartlett | B+ | 60.5 | 59.1 | 60 | 82 | 69 | 56,876 |
| 8Lebanon | B+ | 60.4 | 60.3 | 58 | 85 | 68 | 44,788 |
| 9Gallatin | B+ | 59.4 | 58.9 | 62 | 92 | 67 | 48,532 |
| 10Murfreesboro | B | 59.0 | 57.1 | 61 | 70 | 65 | 161,445 |
| 11Kingsport | C | 58.7 | 51.3 | 64 | 55 | 85 | 56,262 |
| 12Smyrna | B | 58.6 | 58.3 | 60 | 72 | 67 | 56,692 |
| 13Clarksville | C+ | 57.0 | 53.4 | 53 | 74 | 76 | 176,456 |
| 14Columbia | C+ | 56.8 | 54.1 | 56 | 73 | 72 | 45,441 |
| 15Cleveland | C | 55.7 | 51.6 | 59 | 59 | 81 | 48,829 |
| 16Knoxville | C | 55.2 | 51.8 | 58 | 46 | 78 | 195,185 |
| 17Chattanooga | C | 52.8 | 50.9 | 61 | 40 | 76 | 185,783 |
| 18Jackson | D | 49.4 | 44.4 | 54 | 42 | 83 | 68,435 |
| 19Nashville | C | 47.8 | 50.4 | 53 | 18 | 63 | 690,130 |
| 20Memphis | F | 41.5 | 37.4 | 43 | 7 | 81 | 618,980 |
City families scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out. City scores for families also weigh the county's expected yearly building losses from natural hazards (FEMA), lower is better; the share of adults without health insurance (CDC PLACES), lower is better; the share of households with someone under 18 (Census ACS), higher is better.
Compare: States with Similar Families Rankings
Also See: Tennessee for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tennessee a good state for families?
Tennessee ranks #30 out of 50 for families with a persona-weighted score of 62.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (78/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (13/100).
What is the best city for families in Tennessee?
Franklin ranks #1 in Tennessee for families with a score of 67.8/100, followed by Collierville and Brentwood.
What factors are most important for families in Tennessee?
Rankings weighted toward education quality, public safety, affordable housing, healthcare, and community livability — the factors that matter most to families with children.