The Best City in Tennessee for Young Professionals

This post is part of our series about the best cities in the U.S. for young professionals. Check out the guides to Florida, California, and Texas. 

Thinking about making a drastic move to better your career? You’re not alone. Once you realize what path you want to take, it’s natural to start thinking about finding the best place to start over new.

If you’re considering Tennessee, you might wonder if Nashville is your only culturally-vibrant option in the state. Tennessee is known for its natural beauty and southern charm, but what about the careers and professional paths of its residents? Where is the young professional hub in Tennessee?

The best city in Tennessee for young professionals is Franklin, a small city with a population of just 64,833.

Why Franklin, Tennessee?

Franklin is close to its more affluent neighbor, Brentwood. Because of its location, it shares its high home values, rent costs, and very low unemployment levels (roughly half the national average).

The residents of Franklin make bank and live in beautiful homes. The crime rates are some of the lowest in the state. Citizens of Franklin are likely to have higher education levels, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree being most common, and the pet-friendly city is filled with things to do, great food, and kind citizens.

Here’s why we think Franklin is the best city in Tennessee for young professionals.

Things to do

Franklin is full of attractions and things to do. Radnor Lake, Old Hickory Lake, and Percy Priest Lake are all within an hour’s drive of the city, so kayaking, renting pontoon boats, waterskiing, tubing, and riding jet skis are all fun activities to try.

There are also art galleries, movie theaters, monuments, and landmarks rich in history, malls, and zoos nearby.

You’ll never run out of things to do in Franklin:

• Museums
• Art galleries
• Performance venues
• Professional sport venues
• Movie theaters
• Zoos
• Amusement parks
• Parks and natural attractions
• Historical landmarks/monuments

Work

Franklin has a lot of prime commercial real estate up for grabs. Great, convenient office space is available all over the city and the city’s residents agree: Franklin is a great place to work. The traffic is nothing compared to Brentwood (or Nashville’s).

Franklin residents have higher income levels than the national average, at roughly $80,000 earned yearly in a family. Thirty-two percent of residents make anywhere from $75K – $149K here. The community of young professionals in Franklin continues to grow each year, and new meetups and networking events are popping up each day.

Check out the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce’s website to see the upcoming young professionals (40 and under) events in the county.

Food

Franklin is the birthplace of tons of unique, local food joints that offer modern spins on traditional southern classics, as well as a diverse cultural restaurant scene. You can have a Belgian-style brunch, then end up at a Mexican restaurant for lunch and a fried chicken shack for dinner.

The food truck scene is steadily growing in Franklin. You’ll find a lot of options on certain days, including barbecue, Tex-Mex, breakfast, and pizza. There’s also a wonderful selection of casual dining and higher-end dining establishments in the city to accommodate every craving and occasion.

Franklin is the best city in Tennessee for young professionals because it’s youthful, vibrant, and growing along with its residents. If you’re considering making a big move and shaking things up, Franklin is a great destination to help you get started.

Have you lived in or visited Franklin? Think it’s the best city in Tennessee for young professionals or another group? We want to hear your thoughts! Tweet @conrecept to tell us your experiences in Franklin, Tennessee!