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

Lakefront golf villas, a 1934 cottage on Ferry Street, and a gated Greg Norman course on Watts Bar Lake all share one mailing address: Loudon, Tennessee. This small Loudon County seat sits on the Tennessee River about 30 miles southwest of downtown Knoxville, and its mailing address reaches well past the city limits.

Below, we lay out the real pros and cons of living in Loudon for 2026, with sources and dates so you can check our work. If you want to browse while you read, here are the homes for sale in Loudon right now.

Here's what we'll cover:

Loudon at a Glance

• County: Loudon County. The City of Loudon is the county seat.
• Population: 5,991 at the 2020 Census and an estimated 6,963 in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts). That count covers city limits only. Tellico Village and other lake communities with Loudon addresses sit outside it.
• Median owner-occupied home value inside the city: $244,200 (Census ACS 2020 to 2024).
• Utilities: Loudon Utilities Board handles electric, water, and natural gas.
• Schools: Loudon County Schools.
• Water nearby: the Tennessee River (Watts Bar Lake) at town and Tellico Lake to the south.

Quick Take: Pros and Cons

Pros: two big lakes, a walkable historic downtown, Tellico Village golf and amenities with no age restriction, one utility board, local manufacturing jobs, and lower tax rates for 2026.

Cons: a 45 minute or longer drive to downtown Knoxville, limited shopping in town, POA fees in lake communities, lake prices well above the in-town median, and bridge work on US-321 through mid-November.

Pros of Living in Loudon

Lakes on Two Sides

The Tennessee River at Loudon sits below Fort Loudoun Dam, on Watts Bar Lake. TVA notes that the Fort Loudoun lock lifts boats about 70 feet between the two reservoirs. South of town, TVA's Tellico Lake has 357 miles of shoreline and 15,560 acres of water stretching 33 miles up the Little Tennessee River, with a canal linking it to Fort Loudoun Lake. If you love boating, few small towns around Knoxville give you this much water. Browse waterfront homes around Knoxville to compare.

Tellico Village Amenities

Tellico Village, established in 1987 on Tellico Lake, has three private golf courses (Toqua, Tanasi, and Kahite) and says it has no age restrictions. Its property owners association counted 5,689 single-family and 343 multifamily homes as of July 2026 in its Q2 2026 newsletter. The POA runs the roads, amenities, and the water and sewer system, and its office is at 202 Chota Road in Loudon. Golfers can compare golf course homes across the region.

A Historic Downtown and Courthouse

The Loudon County Courthouse, built in 1872, burned on April 23, 2019. After years of rebuilding, county offices began moving back on May 2, 2025, according to WATE, WVLT, and the News-Herald. The courthouse anchors a small downtown historic district with shops and restaurants near the river.

One Utility Board

Loudon Utilities Board provides electric, water, and natural gas from one office at 2360 Highway 72 North (865-458-2091). LUB lists a $30 connection fee and a deposit of $0, $125, or $250 based on credit. One account and one call make move-in easier.

Local Jobs

Loudon has real industry for a town its size. The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency lists Malibu Boats and Kimberly-Clark with 500 to 999 employees each, plus the Primient plant on Blair Bend Road with 250 to 499. Monterey Mushrooms also runs a farm here. Census data puts the mean commute for city residents at 19.6 minutes.

Cons of Living in Loudon

Knoxville Is a Real Drive

Downtown Knoxville is about 34 miles from the courthouse and about 36 miles from Tellico Village. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour each way. If you work downtown five days a week, that adds up.

Limited Shopping in Town

Big-box shopping, most chain restaurants, and many medical offices sit in Lenoir City or west Knox County. Turkey Creek in Farragut is about 20 miles from downtown Loudon. Small-town quiet comes with more errands on the highway.

POA Fees in Lake Communities

Tellico Village's 2026 POA assessment is $186.98 a month, or $2,243.76 a year, up 3% from $181.53, per the POA's 2026 budget presentation from November 13, 2025. Tennessee National and other gated communities have their own dues. Add those to your monthly budget with our mortgage calculator before you fall for a view.

Lake Prices Run High

The Census median for owner-occupied homes inside city limits is $244,200. Listings with a Loudon city field in the Knoxville-area MLS, which take in Tellico Village and other lake communities, run much higher. In September 2026, the median sold price was $629,000 across 66 sales, and the median active list price was $699,900 (flexmls). The town has homes at many prices, so set your search area carefully.

Bridge Work on US-321

TDOT reduced the US-321/SR 73 bridges over Tellico Lake and SR 444 (Tellico Parkway) to one lane each way for repairs, with work targeted for completion around November 15, 2026. Expect delays between Tellico Village and Lenoir City until then.

Tellico Lake on the Little Tennessee River, with the Unicoi Mountains rising beyond it.

Lakes, the Smokies, and Your Commute

Drive times below come from OpenStreetMap routing on October 26, 2026, widened for real traffic.

• Lenoir City: about 7 miles, 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Loudon.
• Turkey Creek, Farragut: about 20 miles, 25 to 35 minutes.
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: about 20 miles, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Maryville: about 26 miles, 35 to 45 minutes.
• McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS): about 30 miles, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Downtown Knoxville: about 34 miles, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Townsend, the "peaceful side" gateway to the Smokies: about 42 miles, roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Chattanooga: about 84 miles, 1.5 to 2 hours.

From Tellico Village, add a few minutes to most Knoxville trips. Downtown Knoxville is about 36 miles, or 50 minutes to an hour, and downtown Loudon is about 10 miles away. On the water, plan ahead: a private dock on a TVA lake needs a TVA Section 26a permit, so ask about any dock's permit before you buy.

Homes and Neighborhoods in Loudon

Loudon housing falls into four broad groups:

• Older homes near downtown, some dating to the 1930s, usually at the lower end of local prices.
• Newer subdivisions on the edges of town. Our guide to buying new construction covers builder contracts and warranties.
• Tellico Village, with golf villas, lake homes, and wooded lots across neighborhoods like Toqua and Chota.
• Tennessee National, a private gated lake community on Watts Bar Lake with a Greg Norman Signature golf course.

Want land instead of a neighborhood? See how we help with buying homes with acreage across Loudon County.

Homes for Sale in Loudon Right Now

A sample of active listings with a Loudon address, pulled October 26, 2026. Prices and status change fast.

$259,900

2 beds | 2 baths | 984 sq ft

511 Ferry St, Loudon, TN 37774

MLS# 1359271

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams

View this home

$390,000

3 beds | 2 baths | 1,680 sq ft

298 Hartfield Ln, Loudon, TN 37774

MLS# 1359234

Listing courtesy of Realty Executives Main Street

View this home

$409,900

3 beds | 2 baths | 1,485 sq ft

310 Paoli Tc, Loudon, TN 37774

MLS# 1359122

Listing courtesy of Tellico Realty, Inc.

View this home

$624,900

3 beds | 2 baths | 2,104 sq ft

138 Ootsima Way, Loudon, TN 37774

MLS# 1359870

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Realty

View this home

$1,320,000

3 beds | 2.5 baths | 3,545 sq ft

116 Kawonu Ln, Loudon, TN 37774

MLS# 1359790

Listing courtesy of BHHS Lakeside Realty

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 in Loudon

Property Taxes and Schools

For 2026, the City of Loudon rate is $0.7902 per $100 of assessed value, down from $1.19 in 2025. Loudon County's projected 2026 rate is $1.0944, down from $1.7683. Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value. On a $400,000 home inside city limits, that's about $1,885 a year combined. A home in an unincorporated area, such as Tellico Village, pays the county rate only, about $1,094 on the same value. City bills go out October 1 and are due February 28, with 1.5% monthly interest after that. Confirm the current figures with the Loudon County Trustee before you budget.

Loudon County Schools ran 9 schools with 5,085 students in 2024 to 2025 (NCES). Schools in town include Loudon Elementary, Steekee Elementary, Fort Loudoun Middle, and Loudon High School. Lenoir City Schools is a separate district, so always verify school zoning by address with the district. We never promise a school assignment.

Robinson Mill near Loudon, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits where Vonore Road crosses Clear Branch Creek.

Is Loudon Right for You?

Loudon fits buyers who want lake time, golf, or small-town pace and can live with a longer drive to Knoxville. Retirees and remote workers often look hard at Tellico Village, and our downsizing guide for East Tennessee covers that move. Buying from out of state? Here's how remote home buying works with our team.

Comparing neighbors? Lenoir City is the closest. Read our Lenoir City pros and cons and the Lenoir City relocation guide, or browse Lenoir City listings. For the bigger picture, start with our Greater Knoxville relocation guide.

Selling a Home in Loudon?

Loudon-area listings averaged 55 days on market in September 2026 (flexmls), so pricing matters. Start with a free home value estimate, then run your numbers through our home sale calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Loudon, TN

Is Loudon, TN a good place to live?

For lake lovers, golfers, and anyone who likes a small town, it can be. Loudon offers two lakes, a historic downtown, one utility board, and local jobs. The tradeoffs are the drive to Knoxville, limited shopping, and POA fees in lake communities.

How far is Loudon from Knoxville?

Downtown Knoxville is about 34 miles from the Loudon courthouse, roughly 45 to 55 minutes by car.

Is Tellico Village a 55+ community?

No. Tellico Village says it has no age restrictions, though many residents are retirees. The 2026 POA assessment is $186.98 a month.

What lake is Loudon on?

The Tennessee River at Loudon is part of Watts Bar Lake, just below Fort Loudoun Dam. Tellico Lake lies to the south, where Tellico Village sits.

How much are property taxes in Loudon?

For 2026, the city rate is $0.7902 and the projected county rate is $1.0944 per $100 of assessed value. That's about $1,885 a year on a $400,000 home in city limits.

Talk to MaX House

Ready to see Loudon in person? Our team works with buyers and sellers from the lakes to the Smokies, and we'd be glad to show you around. MaX House, brokered by LPT Realty.

Cover photo: Downtown Loudon Historic District by Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos: Tellico Lake from Fort Loudoun by Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0; Robinson Mill near Loudon by Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0; all via Wikimedia Commons.