Oak Ridge: From Secret City to Lifestyle Centerpiece

Taking a detour in East Tennessee off I-40 onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike feels far removed from the traffic packed on I-75 in Knoxville. This whole Oak Ridge area feels different and for a good reason. This Knoxville metro city is known as the “Secret City” because of its clandestine beginnings during World War II. Today, it’s no longer a blank space on the map but a thriving small town where cutting-edge technology and family-friendly recreation coexist. The “secret” is getting out that Oak Ridge is a great place to live; this profile illuminates the why.

About Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge’s very existence was hidden from public knowledge as it played a pivotal role in the Manhattan Project—the audacious mission to build the first atomic bomb and crucial for ending WWII. Over 75,000 “in the know” residents worked across what was then Tennessee’s fifth-largest city. All were rigorously developing the technology that would usher humanity into the atomic age while shrouded in mystery behind guarded fences.

Protecting the secret meant the city was missing on the map! Everything the workers needed lay behind the gates: family homes, grocery stores, schools, and shopping.

After the war, the roots were in place for a permanent community. Today, Oak Ridge is no longer a secret. It’s still a national leader in research, science, engineering, and technological innovation.

Geographically, it’s northeast of Knoxville, in the rolling hills between I-40 and I-75, and connected to both through the Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Clinch River and Melton Hill Lake form its southern and eastern borders.

Find High Paying Careers

Oak Ridge is nationally recognized as a thriving research and tech hub. World-renowned institutions like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, UCOR, and Y-12 National Security Complex draw the brightest minds in these specialized fields. Over 1,000 residents have Ph. D.s in scientific fields. New technologies in nuclear fuel with TRISO-X and nuclear engineering advancements with Kairos Power represent the future-focused mindset of the local job market. The result is Oak Ridge has numerous high-paying career opportunities despite being a small town.

Besides careers in nuclear, advanced energy, and technology, Oak Ridge’s job market is bolstered by the presence of the automotive industry, advanced manufacturing, and data centers. Rounding out its high-demand sectors is a strong retail presence.

State-Ranked Education System

Education in Oak Ridge is synonymous with excellence. The school system is lauded for its high rankings and science-forward curriculum, a hallmark since the city’s earliest days. Oak Ridge Schools is a rigorous but intimate school system, with four elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, and one K-12 adaptive school.

With over 75% of teachers holding master’s degrees, the classes foster a robust STEM education from the earliest ages. Its mission is to prepare students for successful futures in an increasingly science and tech-dominant world.

Year after year, Oak Ridge earns top marks in Tennessee’s Department of Education evaluation system, making it one of the state’s best school systems.

Exceptional land and water recreation

With approximately 1,566 acres of forested greenbelts and miles of greenways, Oak Ridge’s 16 community parks provide extensive walking, hiking, and biking opportunities year-round. The system’s facilities include historic old homesteads, a disc golf course, and Mountain Bike tracks. At Haw Ridge Park, locals launch kayaks and paddleboard onto the Clinch River access or come for its pump track.

The Clinch River’s flowing cool waters are the perfect respite on a hot Tennessee summer day. Behind the power plant dams, the River becomes Melton Hill Lake, the site of a nationally acclaimed buoyed race course for water sports like rowing and canoeing. But multiple other access points are available to launch motorized craft for a day out fishing or simply soaking in a day of fun in the sun on the water.

Not far from Oak Ridge are even more choices for outdoor recreation. One is the Windrock Bike Park, home of the Tennessee National competition. Its mountain bike trails promise adrenaline-fueled downhills for all skill levels. The Big South Fork National Recreation area is just 30 miles north, where trails and waters wander by stunning sandstone cliffs and remote mountain backcountry. Horseback riding and rock climbing are two sporting perks in this wild landscape. Whitewater adventurers have the Ocoee River, site of Olympic kayaking in the 1996 Atlanta games, just 60 miles away.

For golfers, Oak Ridge has three courses: Oak Ridge Country Club, Centennial Golf Course, and the 12-hole “The Patch.” Several more courses lie within a 30-mile radius. Oak Ridge Country Club is a private venue that prides itself on its friendly staff. Centennial Golf Course is semi-private, with public tee times and a tech-forward golf academy.

Powered by Arts and Culture

Rounding out the high quality of life are Oak Ridge’s cultural attractions. Hands down, the most popular attraction is the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE). The exhibits tell the story of Oak Ridge’s transformation, plus its contributions to science. Learn about the birthplace of the atomic bomb to the cradle of peacetime atomic wonders that now shape our modern world. t AMSE takes a deep dive into the technological marvels that arose from the work of the Manhattan Project and continue to unfold in Oak Ridge. Among them are advancements in smartphone technology and supercomputing to national security and medical treatments. It’s truly a fascinating experience and a top attraction in greater Knoxville.

Complementing this exceptional museum is a Children’s Museum. Interactive exhibits encourage youth to get hands-on with science and the world. Play dress-up in the life-size “Doll House” or make music in the International Hall. It even has a train garden outside, complete with a former caboose. Museum programming has craft days, toddler playtime, and musical classes.

The historic Jackson Square is Oak Ridge’s beautiful community centerpiece. In the square awaits the Oak Ridge Community Playhouse, a thriving community theater group that has brought high-quality shows to the auditorium since 1943. The city’s ballet and symphony use its stage for their annual concerts. The Oak Ridge Community Art Center has been developing programs and exhibitions for visual artists for over 50 years. It’s one part museum with rotating galleries and one part education center with classes and workshops, serving over 50,000 visitors a year.

Oak Ridge festivals like the long-standing Lavender Festival celebrate health, herbs, and the environment, adding color and camaraderie to the community canvas. The city also commits to agriculture and sustainability, displayed proudly at seasonal farmers’ markets and farm-to-table restaurants.

Affordable Cost of Living

The perks of Oak Ridge are clear: a world-class public education system, exceptional outdoor recreation access, arts and culture, and a highly skilled job market. All these things are available at an incredible cost of living that runs 14% under the national average and 4% under the Tennessee average.

Only miscellaneous costs run above average. That category covers expenses like child care, dining out, or attraction tickets. It’s well balanced by housing costs 34% under the national average and transportation costs 15% under.

Buying an Oak Ridge Home

Housing within this remarkable Tennessee community benefits from the city’s rich past and promising future. The older sections feature stately homes, often on tree-lined streets and with a backdrop of Eastern Tennessee’s foothills. It’s easier to find larger lots for those who want to garden to raise a few small animals.

At the same time, Oak Ridge is growing. Its housing stock has increased thanks to new construction–600 homes from 20019-2014. Even with the new homes, the January 2024 median sold price was $266,000. That was up 22% year-over-year.

Some neighborhoods in Oak Ridge to get familiar with the area:

• The Preserve: A master-planned development of eight neighborhoods on a bend of Watts Bar Lake provides waterfront living choices and amenities like swimming, tennis, and boat launch access.
• Forest Creek Village: Another new construction community, this one with creekside sites, wooded acres, and adjacent lots to Oak Ridge Golf & Country Club.
• Groves Park: Amenities in the new development include a dog park, playground, sports courts, and pool.
• Westwood: An established, HOA-managed community with mature trees and spacious lots. It’s near the Oak Ridge Golf & Country Club.
• Briarcliff: This mature neighborhood near the Civic Center includes a community pool. Several of the city’s parks and hiking trails are nearby.

Moving to Oak Ridge, TN

Life in the Eastern Tennessee hills is incredibly well-rounded. Few places in the US have all the perks laid out in Oak Ridge. Truly, the combination of outdoor recreation, arts and culture, top-notch education systems, and affordable living costs makes the community an exceptional place to call home. Contact a local real estate agent help you when moving to Oak Ridge.