Top 3 reasons Armenians are moving to Tennessee

Reason #1: It feels like Armenia

Can you tell the difference? One picture is in the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee and one is Dilijan in Armenia.

The land, climate, and plants are nearly identical in these two areas. Both areas are also similarly vacation destinations. Dilijan draws vacationers from around Armenia and abroad, and the Upper Cumberland draws in people from Nashville and the surrounding states. The region is mostly rural with several cute towns and small cities evenly spread throughout.

Reason #2: Your money goes farther

The Upper Cumberland is a great place to vacation, retire, and work. Property taxes are low and state income taxes for individuals are non-existent. Work-from-home types give themselves a raise by moving to this no-income tax state.

Comparing the cost of living between Los Angeles, CA, and Cookeville, TN, highlights the significant differences. In Los Angeles, the cost of housing is particularly high, with median home prices exceeding $800,000 and average rent for a one-bedroom apartment around $2,300 per month. In contrast, Cookeville which is the largest city in the Upper Cumberland, offers much more affordable living, with median home prices around $300,000 and average rent for a one-bedroom apartment about $700 per month. Additionally, groceries, transportation, and healthcare costs are lower in Cookeville.

Overall, living in the Upper Cumberland is significantly less expensive, allowing for a potentially higher quality of life on a lower income compared to Los Angeles​, New York City, New Jersey, Boston, and many of the other Armenian areas in America.

Reason #3: Family friendly

In many places in the US, it has become almost counter-cultural to start a family. Not so in Tennessee. The towns in the Upper Cumberland are full of families. It is a great place to raise a family.

The Upper Cumberland is safe, with minimal crime. There are loads of activities to do outside as a family. The educational environment is good with inexpensive private schools and is homeschooling friendly if that is the path you are interested in taking.

Many people who are moving to the Upper Cumberland have family spread-out around the country. Having a large international airport close-by in Nashville is a great resource to stay connected with family.