Your EZ Search Profile: About Maryville, TN

Could Maryville be the best small town in Tennessee? Some would argue yes. Between its quiet, residential streets, high-quality school system, and location between a major city and national park, Maryville’s advantages make it one of the most desirable places to live in western Tennessee. Get to know this community-minded town and see if buying a home in Maryville is right for you.

About Maryville, TN

As the county seat for Blount County, this Knoxville suburb is 20 miles south of the state’s third-largest city. Next door is its “twin city,” Alcoa, an industrial center long important to manufacturing in the state and the local economy.

This area has long held more progressive roots. In the 1800s, it had a large number of Society of Friends, which advocated against slavery and voted against seceding from the Union at the start of the Civil War. It elected an African-American mayor as early as 1869.

Geographically, it’s a beautiful area sitting in the Appalachian foothills. A rolling landscape is cut by the Little River and its tributaries, leading to valleys and peaceful streams. Ridges of the Western Smokies rise to the South, and the “Three Sisters” stand tall on the southern horizon.

Maryville had around 32,000 residents in 2022, an increase of 2.5% since 2020. It has posted slow but steady growth since 2010.

Maryville is about 10 miles from the Knoxville Airport if you need to travel. It’s also home to the only Mayo Clinic in East Tennessee, meaning you have easier access to specialty medical care not far from home.

Life in Maryville

“Community” isn’t a word; it’s a mindset backed by action. Trees shade the wide sidewalks of downtown Maryville, where locals come to pick up a locally brewed coffee, sit and relax at the park, or wave at the passing holiday parade. Find benches and outdoor tables inviting you to sit and linger with friends and neighbors.

The downtown is truly a gathering place for Maryville residents. The historic Capitol Theater and the Clayton Center for the Arts bring in touring performance artists, but it’s also where local school programs and artists take the stage. Main Street is also home to businesses, from retailers like Altar’D State to local banks. Find well-loved local restaurants like Bella and Vienna Coffee.

The Farmer’s Market is held in season at the downtown Founder’s Square. All the vendors grow, bake, or make their products from scratch.

Downtown is growing, with new mixed-use and townhome developments coming into that part of town. It will add to the culture and character of downtown Maryville.

Schools in Maryville

Securing quality education for your children is clearly a top benefit to living in Maryville. Rated on Niche.com as the #1 School District in Tennessee, this public school district is further rated as having the best teachers and the third-best place to teach.

Maryville Schools runs eight schools, broken into one virtual school, three K-3 elementary, two grades 4-7 intermediate, one grade 8-9 junior high, and one grade 10-12 high school. Seven of the eight earned high-performing status, and five were National Blue Ribbon schools.

Segueing off the high-performing public school system is a tradition of liberal arts excellence dating to 1819. Presbyterian-founded Maryville College is small, with less than 1,000 undergraduates, but it’s been awarded recognition as a top college for quality and affordability by Money. Further acknowledgement comes from evaluator College of Distinction for career development, business, and education. Outdoors Magazine picks it out as an outdoor-oriented school, as it even has an outdoor studies and tourism major. Grants from the US Department of Education, Health & Human Services, and the EPA support its research arm.

As such, Maryville is a highly educated city, with 93% of adult residents holding a high school diploma and 37% with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Maryville Economy

Manufacturing has long been the primary source of employment in the cities south of Knoxville, and that’s no different in Maryville. Even today, manufacturing employment dominates the workforce. The top employer, Denso, is an automobile parts manufacturer, while the runner-up, Clayton Homes, builds mobile homes. Other non-manufacturing top employers include the Blount Memorial Hospital, the school systems, and the nearby National Guard base.

Maryville Cost of Living

Tennessee’s reputation as a low-cost state extends into Maryville, but with this city’s excellent school system and proximity to Knoxville, the cost of living is a little more. Still, it’s 7% less than the national indexed average. The only category residents tended to spend more was for miscellaneous expenses. That’s line items like childcare, eating out, movie tickets and the like.

For everything else, most residents spent well under the indexed average. The top savings were in utilities and housing.

Maryville Real Estate

The peaceful but abundant lifestyle makes Maryville an in-demand city in the greater Knoxville region. The top-tier school system helps, too. Around 70% of the residents own their own homes. While the median value from 2018-2022 was $269,500, more current prices reflect the pandemic growth and interest in Maryville living. As of December 2023, the median sold price was $397,000, higher than the national median of $386,000.

Based on listings available at the time of drafting, homebuyers will find properties from $18,000 for a vacant 0.82-acre lot to $5.95 million for a 60-acre homestead with a six-bedroom, 6.5+ bathroom home.

Maryville has grown organically over the years but has retained a sense of pride in being one city. That said, it does have some distinguishing neighborhoods:

• Historic College Hill: This centrally located neighborhood is, as you might guess, one of its oldest and closest to Maryville College. With over 100 historically relevant homes, the properties here include over 80 built from 1880 to 1939. It’s a showcase of old architectural styles. Locals have a neighborhood association that adds character by running block parties, food truck events, and holiday luminaries.

• West Maryville: This section of town falls between Highway 321, Bicentennial Park, and Foothills Mall Drive. That places locals within easy reach of prime shopping, one of the city’s most popular parks, and the downtown district.

• Sunset View: Convenience is a top perk of living across from Foothills Mall and the Publix marketplace. Plus, the neighborhood connects well to the highway system. Homes are typically around 2,300 sq ft and were built in the 1950s and 1960s.

• Woodmont Addition: Just 2.5 miles north of downtown, this area places you closer to Alcoa and the Green Meadows Country Club.

• Grandview Heights: East of town, this established neighborhood has homes arranged in a quiet residential setting.

• Trotwood Farms: The mountains set the backdrop for this neighborhood, which has homes with high-end finishes, sidewalks, and wide parking.

Recreation in Maryville

The Great Smoky Mountains are under an hour away, making mountain fun part of a Maryville resident’s lifestyle. Whatever you like to do–fly fishing, camping, trail running, biking, horseback riding–it’s accessible in the nearby mountains.

But you don’t need to take a day trip. Maryville’s robust parks system includes 18 facilities with infrastructure for disc golf, sports, and cycling. One of the top perks is the interconnected Greenway System, which joins Maryville’s parks to those of Alcoa next door.

Living in Maryville, TN

Maryville may particularly appeal to those who enjoy outdoor activities and a more relaxed pace of life. It’s also desirable for those who want a small-town lifestyle with a quality education for their kids. However, individuals seeking the energy of a larger city with extensive amenities may find Maryville less suitable. For that, check out nearby Knoxville.