Pros and Cons of Living in Andersonville, TN (2026)

Eight hundred nine miles of shoreline wrap around Norris Lake, and Andersonville sits right on its southern edge. This unincorporated corner of Anderson County is where a lot of Knoxville-area buyers start when they want lake access, a few acres, and a quieter pace about half an hour from downtown. Here are the real pros and cons, with the numbers we could verify as of October 30, 2026.

Want to look before you read? Browse homes for sale in Andersonville, or widen the search with our Anderson County homes page.

Here's what we'll cover:

Andersonville at a Glance

• Where: northeast Anderson County, between Norris Lake and the Clinch River valley, about 22 miles by road north of downtown Knoxville.
• People: the Andersonville census-designated place counted 508 residents and 231 housing units at the 2020 Census. The 37705 mailing area covers far more ground than that.
• Government: unincorporated, so Anderson County handles roads, schools, and services.
• Taxes: Anderson County's rate outside city limits is $1.50376 per $100 of assessed value.
• Schools: Anderson County Schools.

The Pros of Living in Andersonville

Norris Lake at Your Door

Norris Lake is the big draw. TVA lists 809 miles of shoreline and 33,840 acres of water, and calls it the largest reservoir on any Tennessee River tributary. Norris Dam was TVA's first dam, finished in 1936, per the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. If a dock or a lake view is on your list, start with our waterfront homes search and filter north toward the lake.

One County Tax Bill

With no city government, you pay one property tax rate. Anderson County's rate for property outside city limits is $1.50376 per $100 of assessed value, per the county's 2025 to 2026 budget resolution and the Tennessee Comptroller's 2026 rate list. Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value, so a $400,000 home works out to about $1,504 a year. The county reappraised in 2025, and that rate replaced the old $2.6289 rate, per the Courier News. Bills are due by the last day of February, and interest of 1.5% starts on March 1. Plug that number into our mortgage calculator to see your full payment.

Parks and Trails Close By

Anderson County Park covers 196 acres on Norris Lake at 2191 Park Lane, with campsites, a boat ramp, a swimming area, and nature trails. Loyston Point, off Loyston Point Road, has about 23 miles of multi-use trail for hiking and mountain biking, plus a campground, a swimming area, and the Hemlock Bluffs Small Wild Area. Norris Dam State Park, about 4,000 acres, and Big Ridge State Park, 3,687 acres, are both within a short drive.

Room to Spread Out

Andersonville is rolling country, so land is part of the appeal. You'll see homes on wooded lots, small farms, and acreage tracts where a garden and a shop building fit easily. Our guide to buying homes with acreage walks through wells, septic, surveys, and the other details that matter outside a city.

Andersonville United Methodist Church, on the main road through the community.

History You Can Visit

The Museum of Appalachia sits just down Andersonville Highway at 2819 Andersonville Highway. It's a 65-acre living history museum with 35 log structures, per the museum, and a good first stop for visiting family. Norris Dam and the TVA story are a short drive the other way. The town of Loyston was flooded when TVA filled the lake, and the Loyston Point name keeps that history on the map.

The Museum of Appalachia, about five minutes from Andersonville.

The Cons of Living in Andersonville

The Lake Drops Every Winter

Norris is a flood control lake, and TVA moves the water a lot. In a normal year the level swings about 29 feet between summer and winter, per TVA. TVA holds summer pool from June 1 through Labor Day, then lowers the lake to winter flood control levels by January 1. A cove that looks full in July can be mud flats in February, and some docks sit on dry ground. Ask how deep the water is at the dock in winter, and ask for the TVA Section 26a permit on any dock or shoreline work before you buy.

Errands Mean a Drive

Andersonville has churches, a few local stores, and plenty of quiet. For big grocery runs, most chain restaurants, and many medical offices, plan on Clinton, Halls, or the Powell area. Clinton is about 15 minutes away and Halls about 20.

Two Counties, One Mailing Address

An Andersonville mailing address doesn't always mean Anderson County. When we checked active listings on October 30, 2026, two of the homes with a 37705 address were in Union County, on the other side of the county line. That changes your tax rate, your schools, and the office where you register your car. Check the county on the tax record for every home you like, and compare with our Union County homes page if you're open to both.

Winding Roads Add Minutes

The lake creates long fingers of water, and the roads go around them. Loyston Point is under 9 miles from central Andersonville by road, yet it took about 33 minutes in our routing test. Expect slow, curvy two-lane roads for many trips.

Few Homes on the Market

Andersonville is small, so the choice at any moment is thin, and lake homes come up even less often. On October 30, 2026, the active homes we could verify for this post ranged from $364,800 to $1,285,000, a small sample that swings with each new listing. Have your financing ready so you can move fast when the right one appears.

Lakes, Mountains, and Getting Around

Andersonville is lake country first. For the Smokies, budget about an hour and a half. We measured these light-traffic drive times from central Andersonville with the free OSRM routing service on October 30, 2026, then rounded into ranges:

• Museum of Appalachia: about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Anderson County Park on Norris Lake: about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Norris Dam State Park: about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Clinton: about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Big Ridge State Park: about 17 to 22 minutes.
• Powell, at Emory Road and I-75: about 24 to 30 minutes.
• Downtown Knoxville: about 32 to 45 minutes.
• Y-12 in Oak Ridge: about 37 to 45 minutes.
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: about 46 to 55 minutes.
• McGhee Tyson Airport: about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains: about 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes.

If you work in Oak Ridge, compare homes in Oak Ridge and read our Oak Ridge pros and cons before you decide. If north Knoxville is your daily drive, homes in Powell put you closer to I-75.

Norris Dam on the Clinch River, TVA's first dam, a short drive from Andersonville.

Schools in Andersonville

Most Andersonville homes are in Anderson County Schools, which had 6,157 students in 19 schools in the 2023 to 2024 school year, per the National Center for Education Statistics. The listing records we pulled for this post showed Andersonville Elementary, Norris Middle, and Anderson County High as the zoned schools. NCES counts about 296 students at Andersonville Elementary and 1,019 at Anderson County High. Zoning can differ by street, and Union County addresses go to Union County Public Schools, so confirm the school with the district for your exact address.

Homes and Neighborhoods in Andersonville

You'll find older farmhouses, ranch homes on an acre or more, newer homes in small subdivisions such as the Village of Arcadian Spring, and lake homes in communities like The Harbour Club. Buyers who want a smaller place to retire near the water should read our downsizing guide for empty nesters.

Homes for Sale in Andersonville Right Now

A sample of active Anderson County listings with an Andersonville address, pulled October 30, 2026. Prices and status change quickly.

$364,800

2 beds | 2 baths | 1,450 sq ft

101 Chicory Dr, Andersonville, TN 37705

MLS# 1356647

Listing courtesy of RE/MAX Tri Star

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$408,500

3 beds | 2 baths | 1,566 sq ft

108 Jasmine Dr, Andersonville, TN 37705

MLS# 1357757

Listing courtesy of Wallace

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$529,900

3 beds | 2.5 baths | 2,150 sq ft

122 Sportsman Ln, Andersonville, TN 37705

MLS# 1357109

Listing courtesy of Elite Realty

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$719,000

6 beds | 4.5 baths | 3,782 sq ft

379 Red Hill Rd, Andersonville, TN 37705

MLS# 1348137

Listing courtesy of Alco Builders & Realty Co

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$928,000

4 beds | 3.5 baths | 3,265 sq ft

112 Top Sail Ct, Andersonville, TN 37705

MLS# 1356656

Listing courtesy of Rocky Top Realty

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$1,285,000

4 beds | 4 baths | 4,720 sq ft

207 Park Ln, Andersonville, TN 37705

MLS# 1352649

Listing courtesy of Alco Builders & Realty Co

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.

Is Andersonville Right for You?

Andersonville fits buyers who want the lake, some land, and a lower tax rate, and who don't mind driving for errands and work. It's a harder fit if you want sidewalks, shops nearby, or a short commute to West Knoxville. Run the numbers in our affordability calculator, then read our Knoxville relocation guide and the Greater Knoxville relocation page to compare the whole region.

Selling a Home in Andersonville

With so few homes for sale at any time, a well-priced listing in Andersonville gets attention, and lake homes draw buyers from across the region. Pricing still takes care, since lake frontage, dock depth, and acreage move value a lot. Start with a free home value estimate, check your net in the home sale calculator, and see our seller resources.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Andersonville, TN

Is Andersonville, TN a city?

No. Andersonville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Anderson County, with 508 residents at the 2020 Census. Anderson County provides local government.

What are property taxes in Andersonville?

Anderson County's rate outside city limits is $1.50376 per $100 of assessed value. A $400,000 home pays about $1,504 a year. Homes on the Union County side pay Union County's rate.

How far is Andersonville from Knoxville?

About 22 miles by road, or roughly 32 to 45 minutes to downtown Knoxville depending on traffic.

Does Norris Lake go down in winter?

Yes. TVA lowers Norris Lake each fall for flood control. In a normal year the level changes about 29 feet between summer and winter.

What schools serve Andersonville?

Most homes are zoned to Anderson County Schools, often Andersonville Elementary, Norris Middle, and Anderson County High. Confirm by address with the district.

Talk to MaX House

Thinking about a move to Andersonville or Norris Lake? Our team helps buyers and sellers across Anderson County and East Tennessee, and we're glad to set up showings on your schedule. MaX House, brokered by LPT Realty.

Cover photo: Norris Lake near Big Ridge State Park by David Ratledge, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos: Andersonville United Methodist Church and Museum of Appalachia by Brian Stansberry (CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0), and Norris Dam and Substation by David Ratledge, CC BY 4.0, all via Wikimedia Commons.