Another vote for East Tennessee. I’ve live here 73 years and wouldn’t even think about moving.
I’m in a little town just a few miles south of Knoxville and have within 20 miles of where I live currently since I was a child. Everything you need is within a 25 minute drive. We’re a town of 13,000 with a very good hospital no more than 10 minutes from anywhere in town. We have the typical Walmart and Home Depot but still have a thriving community of mom and pop stores. Our hardware store has been in the same location for almost 105 years. And the folks that work in the hardware are career employs that have worked much of their lives there and retire from the store. Several are shooters and know you by name when you walk in.
Next door to the hardware is a very nice mom and pop gun store that keeps a good variety of Smiths, Rugers, Colts and other high quality arms at generally discounted or negotiable prices.
We have a great police force and sheriffs department too. I was on vacation and had a concern about security in my home and all I had to do was contact the sheriffs department and the increased the patrols on my street.
You want mountains, I sit on my deck and look straight into Mt Leconte, a ~6,600 ft mountain in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We live close enough that my wife and I drive up to the part and take our lunch quite often. We’re about 35-40 minutes from the park.
We’re in a valley and as mentioned to our east are the Smokies and to our west the Cumberland mountains and plateau. So if you’re looking for outdoor recreation it here. And if you like the water we’re 5 minutes from Ft Loudon Lake and 10 min from Melton Hill Lake. Both are large recreational lakes especially Ft Loudon.
We generally have mild weather with a few days in the 90’s in late summer and an occasional snow in the winter but neither last long. We do have humidity in the summer but it’s not hard to stay comfortable.
The locals are wonderful people. We have very low violent crime but do have the typical drug crimes. Fortunately they’re not connected to violence.
We have an excellent state government and a pretty good local government. Our governor and legislature are very pro 2A and have brought in several gun manufacturers into the state including Beretta and S&W. Beretta is near Nashville and Smith 20 min from my home in Blount County. Barrett is here as well as several other manufactures and Glock has it’s US distribution and retail store in Nashville.
Our city and county taxes are extremely low compared to the rest of the country. Also as a huge plus is, we have no state income tax. Tourism is huge here as well as high tech industry. In addition Tn has the lowest state debt per capita in the US. I read this week it’s just over $800/household. Also the state pension is fully funded. This just shows how well the state manages its money.
Housing like everywhere else is climbing quickly. My home has increased in value about 125% in less than 10 years. Prices are still good compared to some area but they are climbing and good homes are hard to find,
Take a look into Loudon Co, Roane county, Monroe, McMinn and Blount Counties. Anderson is a little high on taxes and Scott and Morgan a little backwoods but absolutely beautiful and right in the Cumberland Mountains.
It’s a great place to live with a lot of opportunity. From what you described this might be your place. Good luck!
Edit: I forgot to mention we have a first class range 20 minutes away with trap, skeet, clays, action pistol ranges, steel, archery, plinking, competition, bench rest, indoor range and 1000 yard highpower ranges. Great club house too.
