Knoxville Senior AdvisorWhich counties does Knoxville Senior Advisor cover?
We cover Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon, Sevier, Roane and Union counties: Knox and the six counties around it that families most often consider when looking for care near Knoxville.
| County | Population (2025) | Share 65+ | Median age | Licensed ACLFs | Nursing homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 511,453 | 17.8% | 37.7 | 33 | 14 |
| Blount County | 143,820 | 22.6% | 43.8 | 6 | 6 |
| Anderson County | 82,066 | 21.3% | 41.9 | 7 | 5 |
| Loudon County | 63,764 | 30.2% | 50.8 | 6 | 1 |
| Sevier County | 101,342 | 22.4% | 43.6 | 3 | 2 |
| Roane County | 57,395 | 24.6% | 46.0 | 2 | 2 |
| Union County | 21,450 | 20.1% | 42.8 | 0 | 1 |
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age (July 1, 2025); licenses from the HFC October 2026 reports.
Why do the counties differ so much in age?
Retirement migration explains most of it: Loudon County, home to Tellico Village, has a median age of 50.8, while Knox County, with the University of Tennessee and a large working population, has a median age of 37.7.
Older counties do not automatically have more care. Loudon has six licensed ACLFs and one nursing home for about 19,200 residents aged 65 and older, so many of its families also look in Farragut and Maryville.
Do all seven counties share the same local agencies?
Yes. All seven are served by the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency's Area Agency on Aging and Disability and its District Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and all fall under the same Health Facilities Commission licensing.
Knox County also has the CAC Office on Aging, and each surrounding county has its own office on aging or senior center connected to ETHRA.
Which county has the most licensed assisted living per older resident?
Measured as licensed ACLF beds per 1,000 residents aged 65 and older, Knox County has 28; Blount County has 11; Anderson County has 27; Loudon County has 19; Sevier County has 8; Roane County has 8; Union County has 0, using HFC bed counts and Census 2025 estimates.
A low figure does not mean poor care; it often means families travel to a neighboring county, as many in Union and Roane counties do. Use the county pages to see what is licensed locally and what is closest across the line.
Can families choose care in a different county from where they live?
Yes. Tennessee licenses are statewide, TennCare CHOICES is a statewide program, and ETHRA serves all seven counties, so a parent in Union County can move to an ACLF in Halls or Clinton without changing programs or agencies.
The practical limits are distance for visiting family and the parent's ties to doctors, church and friends. Many families choose the county where the most involved adult child lives.
