Tennessee Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Population: 27,387

Located in Anderson County

Nestled between the Great Smoky and Cumberland mountains, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is a progressive, sophisticated city with an unparalleled commitment to excellence. It is said that Oak Ridge had a symphony before it had sidewalks.

Housing
Diverse cultural and recreational opportunities make Oak Ridge a great place to live and work. What's more, the city's incredible offerings are available at one of the lowest costs of living in America. Housing costs are 89% of the national average, while Money magazine lists East Tennessee as having the nation's lowest overall tax burden. Health care, transportation and utilities rank among the best in the country and are available at affordable prices.

For maintenance free living, Oak Ridge has a wide selection of condos, apartments, and rental homes available. Many World War II era homes area available at modest prices and are great for customizing to suit and family's needs. As well as new housing developments are constantly being built.

Economy
Oak Ridge is at the heart of a technology corridor pioneering developments in research, technology transfer, and several science and technical fields. Oak Ridge/Knoxville is home to more than 500 high-tech companies, 45,000 high-tech professionals, 2,300 PhDs, and more than 9,000 college students.

Education
Oak Ridge schools have been praised for excellence since the system began in 1943. With 4,800 students, the system includes four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, all certified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Students are assured individual attention from the system's professional staff of almost 800. The student-to-teacher ratio in kindergarten through fourth grade is 13 to 1.

Oak Ridge also has church school and private school opportunities for families interested in those educational paths. St. Mary's Catholic School serves 223 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grades and is in the center of Oak Ridge. Several churches offer smaller school programs. A Montessori program is also offered and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society.

Higher learning institutions in the area include Roane State Community College, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Source: orcc.org