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Discover the 10 Most Relaxed Cities in Tennessee for 2026
In today’s fast-paced world, everyone can relate to the frustration of encountering unmotivated individuals in the workplace. Whether it’s the colleague who offloads their responsibilities or takes undue credit, a lack of motivation can affect team dynamics and productivity.
For those residing in certain Tennessee towns, the perception of laziness may hit closer to home than one would like to admit.
This article aims to explore the cities in Tennessee where the laid-back lifestyle is most prevalent, based on data analysis of factors that may contribute to lower work engagement. Using the most recent American Community Survey data, we identified key indicators of a relaxed lifestyle in each city.
After analyzing the statistics, here are the ten “Most Relaxed Places in Tennessee” based on our findings:
- Newport
- Bolivar
- Rockwood
- Dayton
- La Follette
- Humboldt
- Jefferson City
- Paris
- Crossville
- Bloomingdale
Continue reading to find out more about where the most relaxed communities reside or skip to the end to check your town’s ranking.
How We Determined the Most Relaxed Places in Tennessee
At Zippia, we pride ourselves on our data-driven approach to challenging questions. By utilizing the latest American Community Survey, we examined various factors to identify the locations that embody a laid-back ethos.
In this analysis, we focused on the most recent data from the American Community Survey to assess community engagement levels across Tennessee. Our criteria for identifying the most relaxed cities included:
- Lowest average hours worked
- Shortest commute times
- Fewest workers per household (ratio of employed individuals to total households)
- Highest unemployment rates
- Lowest percentage of adults with a college degree
We theorized that a combination of low educational attainment, minimal workplace engagement, and extended home presence would indicate a more relaxed lifestyle within a city.
After collecting data from 102 cities in Tennessee with populations over 5,000, we ranked each location from 1 to 102 across the criteria, where 1 signifies the “most relaxed.” We then computed an overall relaxed index to determine the top city in this category.
Ultimately, Newport claimed the title of the “Most Relaxed Place in Tennessee.” Check out the detailed chart below for insights into the ranking of each city.
1. Newport
Population: 6,890
Average Hours Worked: 35.9
Workers Per Household: 0.91
2. Bolivar
Population: 5,275
Average Hours Worked: 36.8
Workers Per Household: 1.14
3. Rockwood
Population: 5,480
Average Hours Worked: 38.8
Workers Per Household: 0.88
4. Dayton
Population: 7,316
Average Hours Worked: 38.0
Workers Per Household: 1.07
5. La Follette
Population: 7,304
Average Hours Worked: 37.6
Workers Per Household: 0.82
6. Humboldt
Population: 8,363
Average Hours Worked: 37.5
Workers Per Household: 0.95
7. Jefferson City
Population: 8,342
Average Hours Worked: 36.5
Workers Per Household: 1.25
8. Paris
Population: 10,165
Average Hours Worked: 38.1
Workers Per Household: 1.03
9. Crossville
Population: 11,125
Average Hours Worked: 36.5
Workers Per Household: 1.01
10. Bloomingdale
Population: 9,882
Average Hours Worked: 36.7
Workers Per Household: 1.13
Detailed List of the Most Relaxed Places in Tennessee
| Place | Overall Rank |
|---|---|
| Newport | 1 |
| Bolivar | 2 |
| Rockwood | 3 |
| Dayton | 4 |
| La Follette | 5 |
| Humboldt | 6 |
| Jefferson City | 7 |
| Paris | 8 |
| Crossville | 9 |
| Bloomingdale | 10 |
As we navigate an evolving job landscape, understanding the dynamics of work engagement is crucial. While these cities may reflect a more relaxed lifestyle, it’s essential to recognize the broader context of labor market trends and remote work opportunities. Whether you’re seeking career advancement or a more laid-back environment, Tennessee offers diverse choices for everyone.

