Moving to Alcoa, TN: Relocation Guide (2026)

Your first stop after closing on an Alcoa home probably won't be the grocery store. It'll be the Municipal Building on Associates Boulevard, because the City of Alcoa runs its own electric, water, and sewer service, and your lights depend on that visit. This guide covers that errand and every other one on the list, from school enrollment to new license plates.

Still deciding whether Alcoa fits? Our pros and cons of living in Alcoa covers the trade-offs. Weighing the city next door? Read the Maryville pros and cons or our Maryville relocation guide.

Here's what we'll cover:

Your Alcoa Move at a Glance

• County: Blount County, between Maryville and Knoxville.
• Population: an estimated 13,689 on July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau).
• Electric, water, and sewer: City of Alcoa.
• Natural gas: Atmos Energy. Trash: City of Alcoa Sanitation.
• Public schools: Alcoa City Schools for homes inside city limits. Verify by address.
• Driver license: Alcoa Driver Services Center, 244 South Calderwood Road.
• Title and tags: Blount County Clerk.
• Property tax: a City of Alcoa bill and a Blount County bill, due at different times.

Your First 30 Days: A Moving Checklist

1. Before closing: confirm the home is inside Alcoa city limits, then line up utilities.
2. Closing week: visit the Municipal Building to start electric, water, and sewer, and call Atmos Energy for gas.
3. Weeks one and two: enroll students with Alcoa City Schools.
4. By day 30: trade in your out-of-state driver license.
5. Right after that: title and register your car with the Blount County Clerk.
6. Put on your calendar: city taxes in September and county taxes from October through February.

Setting Up Utilities in Alcoa

Electric, Water, and Sewer

The City of Alcoa runs all three. New customers sign up at the Municipal Building, 223 Associates Boulevard. The city lists a $25 service fee plus deposits of $175 for electric, $50 for water, and $80 for sewer. Same-day service only happens when you apply in person by noon, so don't leave it for a Friday afternoon. Bring your ID and your closing paperwork or lease.

Gas, Trash, and Internet

Atmos Energy supplies natural gas where it's available, and the city's Sanitation department collects trash with city carts. Internet options vary from street to street, so check providers by address before you close, especially if you work from home.

Enrolling in Alcoa City Schools

Alcoa City Schools enrolls new students online. Per the district's enrollment page and Board Policy 6.203, plan to upload:

• Proof of birth and the student's Social Security number
• An immunization record and evidence of a medical exam
• A parent or guardian photo ID
• Proof of residence: a current utility bill or service set-up agreement with matching mailing and service addresses, or a signed lease, mortgage statement, or deed
• A signed Home Language Survey and Migrant Survey

That utility set-up agreement from the Municipal Building does double duty here, which is one more reason to start service early. The district asks for proof of residence every year, and the 2026 to 2027 school year started July 23, 2026. School zones follow the address, so verify with the district before you buy. The central office is at 524 Faraday Street.

Driver License, Title, and Registration

New Tennessee residents have 30 days to get a Tennessee driver license. The Alcoa Driver Services Center at 244 South Calderwood Road is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM, (865) 981-2359. It replaced the old Maryville center on Home Avenue, which the state closed in March 2022.

Titles and tags go through Blount County Clerk Brad Bryant's office. The main office is in the Blount County Courthouse at 345 Court Street in Maryville, open weekdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM, (865) 273-5800. There's also a Foothills Mall office (closed 1:20 to 2:30 PM for lunch) and a drive-thru at 500 North Cusick Street that handles renewals only. The Tennessee Department of Revenue says to bring your ID, proof of residency, your current out-of-state registration, and your out-of-state title or your lienholder's information.

The Blount County Courthouse in Maryville, home of the County Clerk, who handles titles and tags for Alcoa residents.

Your Property Tax Calendar

Inside city limits, you get two bills. For 2026, the City of Alcoa rate is $1.41 and the Blount County rate is $1.29 per $100 of assessed value, and Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value. On a home appraised at $385,000, that's $96,250 assessed, or about $1,357 for the city and $1,242 for the county, roughly $2,599 a year.

City taxes are due September 1 to 30, with 2% interest a month starting October 1 and no partial payments. County taxes run October 1 through the end of February. Ask your closing agent how this year's taxes were split at closing so nothing sneaks up on you, and use our mortgage calculator to fold taxes into your monthly payment.

Lakes, Smokies, and Getting Around

Alcoa sits right in the middle of everything East Tennessee does well. Fort Loudoun Lake is close by at Louisville, and the Foothills Parkway and the Smokies are an easy Saturday drive. Shopping for a home on the water? Start with our Maryville-area waterfront homes.

Fall color and a rainbow from the Foothills Parkway in Blount County, November 2018.

Estimated drive times from central Alcoa, given as ranges for traffic and Alcoa Highway work zones:

• McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS): 10 to 15 minutes
• Downtown Maryville: 5 to 10 minutes
• Fort Loudoun Lake at Louisville: 15 to 20 minutes
• Downtown Knoxville or UT Medical Center: 25 to 40 minutes
• West Knoxville at Turkey Creek: 25 to 40 minutes
• Townsend: 30 to 45 minutes
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: 40 to 55 minutes
• Pigeon Forge: 55 to 75 minutes
• Cades Cove: 55 to 75 minutes
• Gatlinburg: 65 to 90 minutes

The airport is a real perk. McGhee Tyson reported a record 3,630,410 passengers and nonstop service to 36 destinations in 2025. It's also home to McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base and the Tennessee Air National Guard's 134th Air Refueling Wing, and military families can find help in our VA and military home buying guide. Working in the city? Compare Knoxville homes for sale, or read our Greater Knoxville relocation guide for the whole region.

Ticket counters inside McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), photographed in 2008.

Cost of Living and the Housing Market

Alcoa is a small market, and the numbers jump around. In flexmls, the Knoxville-area MLS, the September 2026 median sold price inside the city was $385,000, with 128 closed sales over the prior 12 months. Redfin put the 37701 ZIP median at $345,798 for the three months ending September 2026, up 18.4% from a year earlier, and that ZIP reaches beyond city limits. Treat both as partial snapshots. Check what fits your budget with our affordability calculator, and if this is your first home, our first-time buyer guide walks through the process.

Neighborhoods and Homes to Know

Alcoa's housing comes in layers. You'll find small homes from the 1910s and 1920s on older streets like Hannum and Volta, larger homes from the 1990s like the Peppertree Drive listing below, and brand-new infill builds such as the 2026 house on North Linden Drive. The biggest change is Springbrook Farm, the former Alcoa West Plant site near the airport, where WBIR reported on April 8, 2026 that construction had started on a Costco. For more choices, our new construction buyer guide explains builder contracts, and our Blount County listings widen the search.

Homes for Sale in Alcoa Right Now

These homes were active on our site as of October 26, 2026. Prices and status can change at any time.

$239,000

2 beds | 2 baths | 706 sq ft

248 Hannum St, Alcoa, TN 37701

MLS# 1353806

Listing courtesy of Realty Executives Associates

View this home

$325,000

2 beds | 2 baths | 948 sq ft

135 Volta St, Alcoa, TN 37701

MLS# 1358059

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams

View this home

$345,500

5 beds | 2 baths | 1,810 sq ft

1240 N Wright Rd, Alcoa, TN 37701

MLS# 1324086

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams

View this home

$629,900

3 beds | 2 baths | 2,361 sq ft

1038 N Linden Dr, Alcoa, TN 37701

MLS# 1341828

Listing courtesy of Realty Executives Associates

View this home

$929,000

4 beds | 5 baths | 3,678 sq ft

1817 Peppertree Dr, Alcoa, TN 37701

MLS# 1346439

Listing courtesy of Realty Executives Associates

View this home

IDX information is provided exclusively for personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

See all homes for sale in Alcoa

What to Know Before You Buy

• Check the city line. Some 37701 addresses sit outside Alcoa city limits. City utilities, Alcoa City Schools, and the city tax bill all depend on it.
• Plan around Alcoa Highway. TDOT expects the Cherokee Trail to UT Medical Center section in fall 2027 and the Woodson Drive to Cherokee Trail section in spring 2030.
• Listen for planes. Visit at different times of day if the home is close to the airport or the highway.
• Inspect older homes closely. A 100-year-old house can be full of charm, and it can also need wiring, plumbing, or foundation work.
• Buying from out of town? Our remote home buying guide explains video tours and remote closings.

Selling Before You Move?

Moving across town often means selling one home to buy the next. Our guide to buying and selling at the same time lays out the timing options, and our seller services page shows how we market homes. Curious what yours would bring? Get a free home value estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Alcoa, TN

How do I start utilities in Alcoa?

Apply at the Municipal Building, 223 Associates Boulevard, for city electric, water, and sewer. Come in person by noon for same-day service. Gas comes from Atmos Energy.

Where do I get a Tennessee driver license in Alcoa?

The Alcoa Driver Services Center at 244 South Calderwood Road. New residents have 30 days.

How do I enroll in Alcoa City Schools?

Enroll online with proof of birth, immunizations, a medical exam, parent ID, and proof of residence. Verify the zoned school by address first.

When are property taxes due in Alcoa?

City taxes are due September 1 to 30. Blount County taxes run October 1 through the end of February.

How far is Alcoa from the Smoky Mountains?

Townsend is about 30 to 45 minutes away, and Cades Cove is about 55 to 75 minutes.

See Alcoa Homes for Sale

What's My Home Worth?

Talk to MaX House

Ready to make Alcoa home? Our team helps buyers and sellers all over East Tennessee, and we'll help you get settled from the first utility deposit to the last box. MaX House, brokered by LPT Realty.

Cover photo: City of Alcoa Municipal Building by Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos: Blount County Courthouse by Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0; Foothills Parkway by Joye Ardyn Durham, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, public domain; McGhee Tyson Airport ticket counters by Tennesseevols33, public domain; all via Wikimedia Commons.