Best Places to Retire in Tennessee for Housing

Quick answer

The most affordable housing places to retire in Tennessee in 2026 are McMinnville, Union City, and Morristown. McMinnville ranks first, with median home price of $125,600. Rankings below cover 15 Tennessee cities and measure the median home price, using Census Bureau and Zillow home-value data.

Explore the most affordable housing markets for retirees, featuring cities with high-value real estate options. When choosing a retirement destination in Tennessee, housing is often a top priority. The cities below are ranked by the median home price, drawn from Census Bureau and Zillow home-value data and refreshed for 2026.

Source: Census Bureau and Zillow home-value data. See our full methodology and data lineage →

Ranked #1 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $125,600.

Median Home Price

$125,600

established retirement community

Ranked #2 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $135,400. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$135,400

established retirement community

Ranked #3 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $137,100. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$137,100

established retirement community

Ranked #4 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $137,400. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$137,400

established retirement community

Ranked #5 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $149,500. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$149,500

established retirement community

Ranked #6 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $150,100. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$150,100

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #7 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $160,800. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$160,800

tax-friendly for retireesestablished retirement community

Ranked #8 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $161,700. Retirees choose it for tax-friendly for retirees and established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$161,700

established retirement community

Ranked #9 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $163,000. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$163,000

Ranked #10 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $164,000.

Median Home Price

$164,000

Ranked #11 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $165,600.

Median Home Price

$165,600

Ranked #12 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $173,400.

Median Home Price

$173,400

established retirement community

Ranked #13 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $181,600. Retirees choose it for established retirement community.

Median Home Price

$181,600

Ranked #14 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $182,100.

Median Home Price

$182,100

Ranked #15 of 15 Tennessee cities for housing, with median home price of $186,300.

Median Home Price

$186,300

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best place to retire in Tennessee for housing?

McMinnville ranks first among Tennessee retirement cities for housing, with median home price of $125,600. Union City and Morristown follow closely behind. Rankings use Census Bureau and Zillow home-value data.

How does RetireCityIQ rank Tennessee cities for housing?

Each city is scored on the median home price, sourced from Census Bureau and Zillow home-value data. Cities are then ordered from lowest to highest on that metric. See our methodology page for the full scoring model and data lineage.

Which Tennessee cities are covered in these housing rankings?

These rankings cover 15 Tennessee retirement cities, including McMinnville, Union City, Morristown, Paris, Lawrenceburg, and more. Each links to a full retirement guide with cost of living, taxes, healthcare, and climate data.

Other Tennessee Retirement Guides