$334,545Average Value$206Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
Tennessee's secret Manhattan Project site is a thriving civilian town today
Oak Ridge was one of the nation’s best-kept secrets at its founding in 1942, and it still enjoys this reputation today. Known as the Secret City, Oak Ridge was a restricted military compound during WWII as the U.S. government worked to assemble a functioning atomic bomb. In just two and a half years, the population boomed from mostly farming families to more than 75,000 residents working to support the mission to enrich uranium. As WWII ended, Oak Ridge shifted from military to civilian control and became a self-governing town. Today, it's a proud community of 31,400 residents blending suburban calm, historical significance and a thriving outdoor culture. Oak Ridge's scientific heritage still influences its top-rated STEM schools, high-tech, high-wage jobs, and innovative new technology, notably the soon-to-be-built Hermes reactor, aimed at demonstrating affordable, clean nuclear heat production. U.S. Department of Energy facilities cover 62 of the town's 92 square miles. The remainder of Oak Ridge includes quiet residential areas near shopping and parks. This town continues to evolve while retaining its charm as Tennessee’s Secret City, situated 22 miles west of Knoxville. “We’ve got a deep history here,” says Katy Watt, president of Explore Oak Ridge and area resident for almost 20 years.
Oak Ridge was the site of the Manhattan Project, which participated in making the Atomic Bomb.
Oak Ridge is a tight knit community that is seeing lots of retail development.
The Department of Energy is a major employer in Oak Ridge.
The remains of the K-25 site where uranium was enriched is now a National Park.
1/4
Remodeled WWII-era alphabet homes
Oak Ridge has experienced its fair share of expansion. “At the beginning, houses were being built so fast,” Watt says. “Kids would go to school and get lost on their way home because they couldn’t recognize the streets for all the construction that had gone up.” These streets are lined with an eclectic mix of WWII-era homes and contemporary single-family houses built in more recent years. The town is known for its alphabet housing, with smaller homes assigned to earlier letters in the alphabet and larger homes assigned to later letters. These include flat-top homes and Cemesto homes — built with cement and asbestos — many of which have been remodeled to modern standards. There are well-established neighborhoods with a mix of midcentury basement ranch-style homes, split levels and New Traditional homes built in the 1990s and early 2000s. There are also new subdivisions of Colonial-inspired contemporary houses being developed. “We can’t build them fast enough for people moving in,” Watt says. Oak Ridge's median single-family price of $365,590 is lower than the national median price of $416,700.
You can find Simple Traditional homes that were built during WWII in Oak Ridge.
You can find new Colonial Revivals being built in areas of Oak Ridge.
Townhomes are beginning to pop up in Oak Ridge.
You can find new Colonial Revivals being built new Oak Ridge National Lab.
1/4
Oak Ridge schools carry on a tradition of STEM excellence
Highly rated schools play a part in this town's appeal. Niche ranks the Oak Ridge School District number four in Tennessee and gives it an overall A grade. The district oversees nine pre-K-12 schools and emphasizes a challenging STEM curriculum, carrying on the tradition of its founders. “There’s an atmosphere of academic excellence that’s been around since the beginning,” Watt says. “The scientists demanded the best schools for their children, and that’s just sort of carried on to today.” That excellence also extends to the district's teachers, over 75% of whom hold master's degrees. Oak Ridge High School, where most Oak Ridge teens tend to graduate, earns an A. There, students can gain hands-on experience with cybersecurity concepts through the CyberPatriot program, launched by the Air Force Association. Participants compete in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition each year.
Welcome to Linden Elementary School in Oak Ridge.
Welcome to Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge.
Oak Ridge High School has a stand-out front entrance.
Students in Oak Ridge have easy access to STEM learning at AMSE.
1/4
Thousands of rowers flock to Melton Lake
Life here is centered around the great outdoors, with 16 community parks, 12 greenways and 173 miles of shoreline along Melton Hill Lake. Each park was placed strategically throughout the city to allow easy access from each residential area. These spaces allow for golf, swimming, boating, fishing, tennis, soccer, hiking, biking, disc golf, basketball and softball. Rowing is one of the most popular activities here for both beginners and masters of the sport. The Oak Ridge Rowing Association offers youth competitive rowing, adult masters competitive rowing and learn-to-row classes. Thousands of rowers flock to Oak Ridge each year to train and compete on Melton Lake's seven-lane race course. In the southeasternmost corner of Oak Ridge, Haw Ridge Park is a 780-acre wooded expanse with 30 miles of single-track and dirt trails to explore by foot, bike or horse. Oak Ridge is also home to the University of Tennessee Arboretum, where 7 miles of trails wind through the 2,500 exhibited native plant specimens.
Centennial Golf Course is a public golf course near Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge.
Grab your pole and go fishing down on Melton Hill Lake.
Melton Hill Lake is a tranquil spot to enjoy via boat or on the shore.
Haw Ridge Park is the perfect place to run, ride your bike, or walk your dog.
1/4
Big box stores and Big Ed’s Pizza
Oak Ridge is a retail destination for the five surrounding East Tennessee counties, with a Walmart, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods and many more retailers. Several of these are concentrated near the center of town in the Main Street area, which also has a Cinemark with cushioned reclining seats. Oak Ridge Turnpike is another commercial strip where Food City, Kroger and Dollar General sell pantry staples. Jackson Square is the spot for more unique shopping options such as antique stores, boutiques and galleries. Recent efforts have brought national chains to town, but Oak Ridge residents still value the long-time community staples. Big Ed’s Pizza is a family-run business that's been in Oak Ridge for over 50 years. "They don’t do salads, they don’t do anything extra. It’s just pizza, and it’s the best," Watt says. Reader’s Digest in 2023 named Big Ed’s the best pizza in all of Tennessee.
The locals love Big Ed's Pizza, which was named as a Top 51 Pizza Parlor by USA Today.
Oak Ridge residents frequent Food City for groceries.
Dean's Restaurant and Bakery is a local favorite and serves up southern hospitality.
Get your guitar serviced at String Workshop in Oak Ridge.
1/4
The Lavender Festival and midcentury pastimes
Oak Ridge festivals draw larger and larger crowds each year. Originating in 1999, The Lavender Festival is an annual gathering in Jackson Square that celebrates the lavender plant with dozens of vendors and family activities. “We had 25,000 people in town for the 2023 Lavender Festival,” Watt says. “It was absolutely crazy.” In addition, many of the entertainment institutions established during WWII still exist today. The Oak Ridge Playhouse remains an active community theater, and the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra continues to hold concerts, even as development on a downtown district gets underway. The American Museum of Science and Energy looks at the day-to-day stories of the people who worked here in secret, and the technology that's developed since then.
The Oak Ridge Playhouse features 13 rows of seats for live performances of plays and musicals.
Residents and visitors alike can explore the American Museum of Science and Energy.
Step back in time at the K-25 History Center in Oak Ridge.
The American Museum of Science and Energy tells the story of advances in science in Oak Ridge.
1/4
The fast lanes to Secret City
Oak Ridge’s origins as a government secret mean it is several miles from interstate highways. However, state highways cut right through town and connect it to nearby areas. State Route 62 leads south toward Knoxville. Public bus routes do not run in or out of Oak Ridge, but Oak Ridge Transit does provide a door-to-door service by request. Methodist Medical Center has a centrally located emergency room in town and various other medical services. McGhee Tyson Airport is 26 miles southeast, with nonstop flights to 33 destinations in the U.S.
Nuclear cleanup is ongoing
Oak Ridge's past nuclear activity still impacts the town today. The Department of Energy property, covering 35,000 acres, contains a Superfund site. The United States Environmental Protection Agency determined that "leakage from buried wastes, stored wastes, and operational activities from these facilities has resulted in hundreds of contaminated areas across the site." Most of the contamination is contained within the DOE grounds, but impact areas extend beyond the grounds, including surface water and sediment. Cleanup has been ongoing since the 1980s.
Oak Ridge's crime rates are on par with the national average. According to FBI data from 2022 and 2023, violent crimes in Oak Ridge were reported at a yearly rate of 1,323 per 100,00 people, about equal to the nation's average of 1,358 and lower than the state's 2,049. Over the same period, property crime in the city was reported at a yearly rate of 1,654 per 100,000 people, lower than the national and state rates, 1,979 and 2,365, respectively.
The city has a humid subtropical climate known for hot summers and mild winters. Temperatures rarely exceed 94 F or go below 17 F.
Written By
Liz Coughlin
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Byrum
Video By
James Segars
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Linda Erendson,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Oak Ridge, TN sell after 59 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Oak Ridge, TN over the last 12 months is $466,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Convenience is Key!Whether it's easy home maintenance, manageable yard upkeep, or proximity to shopping, and restaurants, this home has you covered!Cozy Fireplace, Modern Kitchen & Room to Roam in this 1596 sq. ft. inviting home, featuring a warm living room with gas log fireplace and a spacious family room — perfect for relaxing or entertaining. With 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and an
This is the East Tennessee home you've been waiting for! Nestled in the heart of Oak Ridge in the highly sought after Emory Heights subdivision, this home offers the perfect blend of modern updates and timeless charm, surrounded by nature, convenience, and top-rated schools. Inside, you'll find brand new flooring, fresh paint throughout, ship-lap walls, stylish lighting, new water heater, approx
Priced to SELL!!!! Seller is Offering Buyer Incentives - Ask for Details!Welcome to this expansive 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom townhouse—a rare triple en suite floorplan with over 3,500 sq ft of beautifully designed living space in the heart of Oak Ridge, TN. Behind the Calhouns Peninsula!Whether you're looking for multi-generational flexibility, space to entertain, or room to relax,
Forest Creek Village has Oak Ridge's newest homesites and is neighboring the popular Oak Ridge Country Club. This is a great building lot in this up-and-coming development. All utilities including fiber optics will be at the lot line. Across the road is the North Boundary Greenway with 16 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, running, and nature wildlife walks. Easy access to Horizon Center,
Main Level Living The main level features three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, all within an open and inviting floor plan. The spacious kitchen boasts beautiful wooden cabinets and a pantry, providing ample storage for all your culinary needs. The expansive living area is anchored by a stunning brick fireplace with a deep, rich wooden mantle, creating a cozy and warm atmosphere
The Clinch River is just beyond your back yard. Magnificent water, river gorge and vista mountain views from this site in desirable The Preserve at Clinch River. Only minutes to Oak Ridge, ORNL, Y-12, I-40 & West Knoxville. Cleared building site with roads & utilities in. Well thought out community has amenities that rival those of a posh resort - marina, boat slips, gas, fitness center, indoor
Discover our premier townhome rental community, Summit Place, in Oak Ridge, TN, near Knoxville. This brand-new community is nestled away in a serene location just minutes from the city, providing an exclusive retreat with easy urban access. All of our townhomes are pet-friendly and boast modern amenities and contemporary designs.Discover more when you come for a visit call today!
This 1067 square foot one level condo in the Preserve has 2 bedrooms and 2.0 bathrooms. Open floor plan. One Car garage. Community features include fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, pickleball courts, a mini golf course, and a marina.Proximity to Oak Ridge and Rockwood make this an ideal location for work and leisure commute. Lawn care is included. Beware of scammers and ONLY
Main Street Lofts, a premier rental community offering Studios, 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Apartment Homes. Located on S. Tulane Avenue near S. Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, TN, Main Street Lofts offers residents stellar on-site amenities including two beautifully decorated clubhouses & two fitness centers with strength, cardio and and HIIT Training, salt water swimming pool, pet park and pet spa, an
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
