The corridor
More Chicago-area families are making this move every year, and the math is mostly about taxes, not the sticker price of a house. Below is the honest comparison, the trade-offs worth weighing, and the questions Illinois movers tend to ask first.
The corridor
A shorter move than the coasts, and the tax math is hard to ignore.
The delta
Illinois sent the second-most new residents to Tennessee in recent years. A net of 5,182 people made this move. What researchers cite stays consistent: no state income tax, far lower property taxes, and a lower overall cost of living. The numbers below are sourced. The life math is yours to do.
Illinois vs. Knoxville
$0
No state income tax on wages, investment income, or retirement.
~17%
How much more expensive Chicago is than Knoxville on overall cost of living.
Sources: Redfin (2026) and BestPlaces. Figures accessed 2026-06-08; verify before relying on them for your own move.
| Dimension | Illinois | Knoxville / Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| State income taxSource: Tax Foundation / IL Dept. of Revenue | Flat 4.95% | $0 (no tax on wages, investment, or retirement) |
| Effective property tax rateSource: Tax Foundation | Among the highest in the U.S., about 1.8–2.1% (Cook County ~2%) | Among the lowest, with many TN counties under ~0.6% |
| Median sale priceSource: Redfin, 2026 | $409,000 (Chicago) | ~$305,000 (Knoxville) |
| Overall cost of livingSource: BestPlaces | Chicago ~16.6% more expensive than Knoxville | Knoxville ~8.2% below the U.S. average |
Two honest caveats so the comparison stays straight. Tennessee's low income and property taxes are partly offset by one of the nation's highest combined sales-tax rates (about 9.61% on average). And home prices in Chicago and Knoxville aren't far apart, so this move is a tax-and-carrying-cost story more than a sticker-price one. Figures accessed 2026-06-08. Verify current numbers before you rely on them for your own move.
The cost of the move itself
The tax gap is the headline, but the move itself still has a line item. From Chicago it's a shorter, often cheaper haul than a coastal move. Here's what the three common approaches run in 2026, with the caveats that keep the estimate honest.
What the move itself costs
For a long-distance move like Illinois to East Tennessee, the real choice is how much of the work you hand off. Here are the honest 2026 ranges, before fuel and any storage time.
Full-service movers
$3,000 – $15,000
Least work, highest cost
They pack, load, drive, and unload. Cross-country moves run higher; professional packing typically adds about $900–$1,500 on top.
Moving container
$2,000 – $8,000
The middle ground
PODS, U-Pack, U-Box, 1-800-PACK-RAT. You pack at your own pace; they handle the long haul. Price tracks size, distance, and season. A larger home often needs more than one container.
Rental truck (DIY)
$1,500 – $7,000
Cheapest, most hands-on
U-Haul, Budget, Penske. You drive it. Long-distance one-way rentals often land $800–$3,000+ before fuel, and a loaded truck gets roughly 6–13 mpg, so budget the gas.
Industry ranges for long-distance moves, 2026. Sources: HomeGuide, PODS, and U-Haul. Figures accessed 2026-05-28; get personalized quotes from at least three providers before you budget. Booking 30–60 days out and avoiding peak summer dates tends to lower the price.
Once you land
Two errands every new Tennessean handles on the same 30-day timeline once you establish residency.
Tennessee asks new residents to obtain a TN driver license no later than 30 days after establishing residency. You visit a full-service Driver Services Center with proof of citizenship or legal presence, your Social Security number, and two proofs of your Tennessee address. You surrender your old license at the counter, since Tennessee doesn't let you hold two.
Source: TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland SecurityTitle and register at your local county clerk within 30 days of arriving. Bring a government photo ID, two proofs of Tennessee residency, and your most current out-of-state registration. If the car is paid off, bring the out-of-state title; if there's a loan, bring the lienholder's name and address.
Fees vary by county. Knox County, for example, lists about $76 for a standard plate, title, and registration. Confirm with your county clerk, since the figure and accepted documents differ from county to county.
Source: TN Dept. of Revenue · Knox County ClerkWant the full settling-in sequence? Read the first 30 / 60 / 90 days guide.
How buying works here
An Illinois purchase and a Tennessee purchase don't run the same way. Here are the parts worth understanding before you make an offer, especially the due-diligence window that's your main protection.
Tennessee uses a Purchase and Sale Agreement, and there's no attorney-review window built in, so once everyone signs, it's a binding contract. The buyer protections live in the contingencies written into it: inspection, financing, appraisal, and (if you need it) the sale of your current home.
Tennessee sets no statutory inspection period. It's whatever the contract says, most commonly 7–14 calendar days from the day the contract is fully executed. In that window you run your inspections (home, termite, radon, HVAC, anything you choose), and you can negotiate repairs or credits, or walk away.
Earnest money isn't your down payment. It sits in escrow with the brokerage or title company until closing. If you exercise a contingency and back out inside the agreed window, it comes back to you. Deadlines here are firm legal obligations, so tracking every performance date matters.
Tennessee process overview, not legal advice. Terms vary by contract, and Robert and your closing attorney or title company will walk you through the specifics for your purchase.
More on doing it from afar: Buying a home from out of state.
What Illinois movers ask
A starting set. Robert is still gathering the questions he hears most from Illinois clients.
Researching schools? Choosing a school is a personal decision, so Robert points clients to neutral, third-party resources to evaluate schools themselves rather than characterizing them. A good starting point is the GreatSchools Knoxville page along with your local district's own site.
Ratings are most useful once you know what they mean. GreatSchools publishes a plain-language explainer on understanding GreatSchools ratings so you can read the data on your own terms and weigh what matters to your family.
Buying from Illinois
Video walkthroughs, honest read-outs, and a local who can stand in for you on the ground. Start the conversation and Robert will map out the remote-buying process for your situation. For the full picture on the place itself, see the relocation guide.