HomeSnacks used concrete data and empirical evidence to bring you a list of the best places to raise your family in Tennessee for 2026.
But first, how did we do it? We consulted the US Census on places in The Volunteer State with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 55 family friendly Tennessee places that any family would be lucky to call home. That’s right, If you can picture your family tapping their toes in Nashville, hiking the trails in Knoxville, or spending the day at Dollywood in PIgeon Forge, then you should definitely think about choosing one of Tennessee’s best places to raise a family to live.
Incidentally, Tennessee has great places for every type of family on every type of budget. There are places like Martin for families who can afford to live in the most expensive places the state has to offer. There are places like Chattanoogo, for families who love the outdoors, and there are places like Franklin for the family just starting out.
So, before you take a gamble with your family’s happiness, we suggest you take a look below at HomeSnacks’ list of the top ten most family places in Tennessee.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Tennessee For 2026
Now, we’re not just any national ranking website. We’ve been researching and ranking states and cities based on all types of criteria for the last five years. We’ve had more than 50 million people read our published articles and we’ve been featured in hundreds of media outlets for our best of the best rankings, including this WMC5 feature. So, yes, we know what we’re talking about.
So, what’s the best place for families to live in Tennessee for 2026? Drum roll… the number one best place for families in The Volunteer State is Franklin based on the most recent Census data.
To see how your favorite places in Tennessee compared, take a look at the list below; and if you don’t see it there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Tennessee and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Tennessee
- Cheapest Places To Live In Tennessee
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Tennessee For 2026
/10
Population: 87,133
Median Income: $119,528
Average Home Price: $922,855
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 58
Closest Major City: Huntsville
Households with kids: 32.7%
More on Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 45,556
Median Income: $182,088
Average Home Price: $1,393,273
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Huntsville
Households with kids: 39.9%
More on Brentwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 40,673
Median Income: $149,920
Average Home Price: $485,879
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: Memphis
Households with kids: 34.5%
More on Germantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,330
Median Income: $70,246
Average Home Price: $418,364
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 33
Closest Major City: Huntsville
Households with kids: 14.1%
More on Collegedale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 55,765
Median Income: $112,013
Average Home Price: $523,264
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Huntsville
Households with kids: 41.0%
More on Spring Hill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,074
Median Income: $177,148
Average Home Price: $836,735
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 56
Closest Major City: Huntsville
Households with kids: 53.6%
More on Nolensville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 32,392
Median Income: $81,963
Average Home Price: $390,045
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Atlanta
Households with kids: 33.5%
More on Maryville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 51,515
Median Income: $138,598
Average Home Price: $509,893
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: Memphis
Households with kids: 40.1%
More on Collierville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 21,103
Median Income: $60,979
Average Home Price: $293,828
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Huntsville
Households with kids: 32.3%
More on Tullahoma: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,385
Median Income: $89,663
Average Home Price: $350,767
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Memphis
Households with kids: 40.6%
More on Atoka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Tennessee anyways?
To give you the places in Tennessee that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Tennessee, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Tennessee, that meant a total of 55 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Tennessee.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Tennessee
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Tennessee ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Tennessee are Franklin, Brentwood, Germantown, Collegedale, Spring Hill, Nolensville, Maryville, Collierville, Tullahoma, and Atoka.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Tennessee according to the data:
- Kingsport
- Memphis
- Alcoa
For more Tennessee reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In Tennessee
- Best Places To Live In Tennessee
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Tennessee
Best Places For Families In Tennessee
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin, TN | 87,133 | $119,528 | $922,855 | 47 |
| 2 | Brentwood, TN | 45,556 | $182,088 | $1,393,273 | 55 |
| 3 | Germantown, TN | 40,673 | $149,920 | $485,879 | 64 |
| 4 | Collegedale, TN | 11,330 | $70,246 | $418,364 | 47 |
| 5 | Spring Hill, TN | 55,765 | $112,013 | $523,264 | 58 |
| 6 | Nolensville, TN | 15,074 | $177,148 | $836,735 | 35 |
| 7 | Maryville, TN | 32,392 | $81,963 | $390,045 | 56 |
| 8 | Collierville, TN | 51,515 | $138,598 | $509,893 | 60 |
| 9 | Tullahoma, TN | 21,103 | $60,979 | $293,828 | 65 |
| 10 | Atoka, TN | 10,385 | $89,663 | $350,767 | 42 |