What is the cost of living in Oak Ridge, TN?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oak Ridge has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Tennessee, Oak Ridge has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Tennessee's index of 94.
The standard of living in Oak Ridge ranks as #63 most affordable out of the 109 places we measured in Tennessee. By definition, that implies Oak Ridge ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Volunteer State.
For more reading on life in Oak Ridge, check out:
Oak Ridge Cost Of Living Vs. Tennessee
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Oak Ridge. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Oak Ridge is 96.
The Groceries index in Oak Ridge is 98.
The Health index in Oak Ridge is 89.
The Housing index in Oak Ridge is 94.
The Transportation index in Oak Ridge is 95.
The Utilities index in Oak Ridge is 97.
| Living Expense | Oak Ridge | Tennessee | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 89 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 98 | 100 |
Oak Ridge Cost Of Living Compared To Tennessee Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Tennessee, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Oak Ridge Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Oak Ridge, TN Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Tennessee, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Oak Ridge is $322,989.
The Median Rent in Oak Ridge is $1,131.
The Median Income in Oak Ridge is $72,311.
The Home Value To Income in Oak Ridge is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Oak Ridge is 0.19x.
Oak Ridge, TN Costs By Category
Detailed Oak Ridge Services costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Oak Ridge Groceries costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Oak Ridge Health costs vs. Tennessee
Detailed Oak Ridge Transportation costs vs. Tennessee
Oak Ridge SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oak Ridge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oak Ridge. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Knoxville, TN has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Oak Ridge.
Farragut, TN has a cost of living index of 123, 1.3x Oak Ridge.
Clinton, TN has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Oak Ridge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Oak Ridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 195,185 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Farragut, TN | 24,634 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Clinton, TN | 10,239 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Kingston, TN | 6,224 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Harriman, TN | 6,090 | 85 | 0.9x |
