The Best Tennessee Towns for Remote Professionals

The best Tennessee towns for remote professionals are Chattanooga for fiber internet, Nashville and Franklin for networking, Memphis and Knoxville for value, and suburbs such as Collierville, Germantown and Brentwood for families who need a spare room for the office. Tennessee has no state tax on wages, and its mix of cities, suburbs and mountain towns lets you pick the pace that fits your workday. This guide, updated for 2026, compares 13 options and explains how to check internet service and set up a home office before you move. If you’re exploring Tennessee towns for remote work, Spyder Moving and Storage TN can help you relocate smoothly to your new home.

Why is Tennessee good for remote professionals?

Tennessee works well for remote workers for three practical reasons:

• Taxes. There is no state income tax on wages, and the Hall income tax on interest and dividends was repealed for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
• Location. The state sits in the middle of the Southeast, with commercial airports in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga for the occasional trip to headquarters.
• Choice. You can pick a big city such as Nashville or Memphis, a suburb such as Germantown or Collierville, or a college town in the mountains.

If you’re moving from Mississippi to Tennessee, for example, you’ll find a mix of convenience, affordability and natural beauty a short drive from home. The table compares the towns in this guide.

Nashville’s figure is the Census count for the Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance). Cordova is part of Memphis, so it has no separate count.

Which Tennessee towns are best for remote work?

Each place below suits a different kind of remote worker, from single professionals who want coworking and nightlife to parents who need a quiet office and a good school nearby.

Memphis

Memphis is a good choice for remote workers who want big-city amenities without Nashville’s price tag. Housing ranges from Midtown apartments and older homes to newer suburban subdivisions, and the city has a growing number of coworking spaces. When you’re not working, you can enjoy the music scene, museums and parks, including Shelby Farms Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country at 4,500 acres. If you’re planning to move, affordable movers in Memphis TN from Spyder’s local office can help you get settled quickly.

Nashville

Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with 689,447 residents in the 2020 Census, and it has the most to offer remote workers who want a professional community. The Nashville Entrepreneur Center, coworking spaces of every size and a busy calendar of meetups make networking easy. Housing options include downtown apartments and family-friendly neighborhoods, but the cost of living is higher than in most of the state. If you’re moving from Memphis to Nashville, for example, budget for higher rents.

Cordova

Cordova, on the eastern edge of Memphis, offers city convenience in a calmer setting. It’s a good option for remote workers who want a house with room for a home office at a lower price than Germantown or Collierville. The area is family-friendly, with parks, schools and shopping centers nearby, and Shelby Farms Park sits on its western side. Crews at Spyder, among the moving companies in Cordova TN, often see remote workers choose this area for its balance of work and lifestyle.

Collierville

Collierville is a town of 51,324 people (2020 Census) with a quiet, welcoming feel. Its historic Town Square, established neighborhoods and its own school district make it appealing for families too. Housing options include both historic homes and newer developments, many with space for a dedicated office. If you’re moving, Spyder’s professional Collierville movers can make the process easier and less stressful.

Germantown

Germantown is a great place for remote workers who want a more upscale area. It has larger homes, parks and greenways, and plenty of local services. You’ll find cafes where you can work or meet people, along with community events through the year. The city also runs its own school district. Spyder’s Germantown movers often recommend the city to people who want comfort, convenience and a quiet place to work.

Chattanooga

Chattanooga is the top choice in Tennessee if internet speed decides your move. EPB, the city-owned utility, offers fiber internet with symmetrical speeds of up to 25 gigabits per second to every home and business in its roughly 600-square-mile service area, so fast uploads for video calls and large files are the norm rather than the exception. The city also has coworking spaces, a startup community built around The Company Lab (CO.LAB), and outdoor activities such as climbing, hiking and paddling within minutes of downtown. Housing ranges from downtown apartments to suburban homes and mountain towns like Signal Mountain.

Franklin

Franklin is a historic city of 83,454 people (2020 Census) in Williamson County, just south of Nashville. Its downtown has shops, restaurants and attractions, which makes it a pleasant place to live and work. Franklin is close to Nashville, so it’s easy to go into the city for networking or events while enjoying a quieter lifestyle. Housing costs are among the higher ones in the state, so plan your budget. If you’re relocating from abroad, Franklin also ranks among the Tennessee neighborhoods for European expats.

Knoxville

Knoxville, home of the University of Tennessee, is a relaxed city with a lively downtown and the Great Smoky Mountains about an hour away. Housing options range from apartments to homes with big yards, and costs are generally lower than in the Nashville area. Remote workers can use coworking spaces, cafes and the events of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, which has supported local founders since 2013. It’s a good choice for remote professionals who want affordability and easy access to the outdoors.

Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro, home of Middle Tennessee State University, had 152,769 residents in the 2020 Census and keeps growing. It has modern housing and a historic downtown square with cafes, which suits remote workers who want a change of scenery from the home office. The city has suburban comforts like parks, greenways and shopping, and Nashville is close enough for client meetings or a night out. It’s a good fit if you want a mix of city and suburban living.

Johnson City

Johnson City is a great choice for remote workers who enjoy the outdoors. It sits in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee, close to Cherokee National Forest and the Appalachian Trail, and it is home to East Tennessee State University. The town is quieter than bigger cities, which is perfect if you want a calm place to live and work. Check internet service at the exact address before you sign, since options vary more outside the city center.

Brentwood

Brentwood is a quiet suburb of 45,373 people (2020 Census) in Williamson County, with high-quality housing and larger lots. The city is known for its parks and trails, which help you keep a good balance between work and relaxation. Brentwood borders Nashville, so it’s easy to take advantage of networking opportunities or big-city conveniences when needed. Remote workers with kids can compare Brentwood with other suburbs around Nashville for families, such as Franklin, Mt. Juliet and Spring Hill.

Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge is a quiet city of 31,402 people (2020 Census) northwest of Knoxville, best known as the home of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. That gives it a strong scientific and technical community, which is useful if you work in research, engineering or IT. Oak Ridge also has family-friendly features like parks, greenways and lakes nearby. If you want a calm and comfortable environment with Knoxville close by, Oak Ridge is worth considering.

Clarksville

Clarksville, home of Austin Peay State University and next to Fort Campbell, had 166,722 residents in the 2020 Census, making it one of the largest cities in the state. Housing costs are typically lower than in Nashville, about an hour southeast, and the city has a riverfront, parks and a growing number of coworking spaces. Clarksville suits remote professionals who want to save money while still having access to good local amenities and a welcoming community. With that many options, the obvious question is which one to actually pick.

Which is the best Tennessee city for remote workers?

There is no single winner; the best Tennessee city for remote workers depends on your stage of life and budget. In short: Collierville or Germantown if you are moving with a family, Nashville or Cordova if you are single and want things to do, and Memphis if value matters most. Chattanooga’s fiber network makes it the pick if raw internet speed is your deciding factor.

Best for remote families: Collierville and Germantown

Both are calm, established suburbs east of Memphis with their own school districts and houses big enough that a spare room becomes the office. Fiber is available in parts of both towns, and many households find they do not need a coworking space at all. Grocery stores, clinics and other daily services are close, and downtown Memphis is a short drive when you want it. They are also among the priciest parts of the Memphis market, so budget accordingly.

Best for single remote workers: Nashville and Cordova

Nashville has a wide choice of coworking spaces, from small local spots to national chains, plus meetups, music and events every night of the week. Neighborhoods such as The Gulch, East Nashville and Sylvan Park combine housing, coffee shops and places to work, and they are popular with remote workers who plan to stay long term. The trade-offs are high housing costs and real traffic. Cordova is the budget alternative near Memphis: cheaper than Germantown or Collierville, with cafes, libraries, gyms, trails and restaurants nearby. If you need more room than a city apartment offers, see our picks for cities near Memphis for young professionals.

Best value: Memphis

Memphis typically costs less to rent or buy in than Nashville, and more coworking spaces keep opening. Downtown and Cooper-Young are neighborhoods where remote workers tend to land, with cafes, parks and live music within walking distance, and Shelby Farms Park is the weekend outlet. Nashville’s equivalent is the Percy Warner Park system on the city’s southwest side. If you are weighing both cities, interstate movers from Tennessee at Spyder handle moves in either direction and can give you a free estimate for each.

How do you set up a home for remote work in Tennessee?

Picking the town is half the job; the other half is choosing the right home and arriving with a workspace that is ready on day one.

Choose housing with an office in mind

Tennessee has many housing options that work for remote workers. Look for a home with a spare bedroom or bonus room you can close off, a quiet street and stores and services nearby. Apartments in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville often include coworking lounges, while suburban homes in Collierville, Germantown, Brentwood and Franklin usually offer a dedicated office.

Check internet by address, not by city

Internet access across Tennessee has improved a lot, but service still varies street by street, especially in suburbs and rural areas, where one block may have fiber and cable while the next has one provider. Before you sign a lease or contract, enter the exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map and on two or three providers’ websites. If your job depends on video calls, large uploads or cloud backups, ask the current occupant what speeds they actually get. Chattanooga is the exception, since EPB fiber reaches every address in its service area.

Plan the office before packing day

Measure the room you plan to use and decide where the desk, monitors and chair go, so the movers can place them straight away. Choose a quiet spot, ideally with a window, since natural light helps on camera and keeps you alert. A supportive chair and a proper desk are worth more than any gadget; add a second screen, backup power and rugs or curtains to cut echo if you take a lot of calls. Schedule internet and power activation for the day before you arrive.

Move the gear carefully

Monitors, desktop computers and office chairs are the items remote workers most often damage in a move. Pack screens in their original boxes or in TV boxes with foam corners, bag and label every cable, and keep laptops, drives and anything you need on day one in your own car. Spyder’s packing and unpacking crews can wrap larger equipment and set up the office first, so you are back online quickly.

How do remote workers build a life outside work in Tennessee?

Working from home is easier when the rest of your week is full. These are the areas to think about before you move.

Balancing work and lifestyle

Tennessee makes it easy to switch off after work. The state has state parks, lakes, mountain trails and cultural attractions that give you plenty to do when you’re not working, from live music in Memphis and Nashville to the Smokies near Knoxville. Experienced long distance movers from Memphis see many remote workers choose Tennessee for exactly this mix of work and leisure.

Community and networking opportunities

Remote workers can meet people through coworking spaces, local events and professional groups. In the bigger cities, the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, Epicenter in Memphis and CO.LAB in Chattanooga run public events where you can meet founders and professionals. Smaller towns are usually close enough to one of these cities to join their events, and libraries, chambers of commerce and civic clubs fill the gap locally.

Quiet, family-friendly neighborhoods

Collierville, Germantown, Brentwood and Franklin are known for quiet residential neighborhoods, parks and well-regarded schools, which is why they are popular with remote professionals who plan to raise a family. Before you choose, look up the crime map and school ratings for the exact neighborhood, not just the city. Once you have chosen, a little preparation makes the first week of working from the new home much smoother.

Ready to move to one of these Tennessee towns for remote professionals?

There are Tennessee towns for remote professionals at every budget. Choose Chattanooga for internet speed, Nashville or Franklin for networking, Memphis, Knoxville or Clarksville for value, and Collierville, Germantown or Brentwood for family life. Visit your top two picks, test the internet at the exact address, and plan your office before packing day. When you’re ready, Spyder Moving and Storage can move your home and office gear with its own licensed crews and trucks. Request a free moving estimate and start working from your new Tennessee home.