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What BestPlaces Users Say about Cookeville
As the county seat of Putnam County, Cookeville, Tennessee is a small and charming city known for its scenic landscapes and affordable cost of living. With a population of just over 34,000, it offers a tight-knit community feel while still having access to big-city amenities. To gain a better understanding of what it's like to live in Cookeville, let's take a look at some user reviews from BestPlaces.net.
According to user "Jenn," Cookeville is a great place for families. She writes, "Cookeville is a wonderful place to raise a family. The schools are excellent and there are plenty of family-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained." Another user, named "Mike," echoes this sentiment, saying, "I moved to Cookeville for work and ended up falling in love with the community. The people are friendly and there's a real sense of community here."
However, not all reviews are overwhelmingly positive. User "Samantha" mentions that the city can feel a bit isolated at times. She shares, "Cookeville is a nice place overall, but it can feel a bit isolated. It's definitely not a bustling city, so if you're looking for lots of nightlife and entertainment options, this may not be the place for you." Similarly, user "David" mentions that job opportunities can be limited, stating, "I've lived in Cookeville for a few years now and while I love the laid-back atmosphere, I've struggled to find good job opportunities here. Many people end up commuting to Nashville for work."
Overall, it seems that Cookeville offers a charming and family-friendly lifestyle, but may not be the best fit for those seeking a fast-paced or bustling city environment. As user "Sara" puts it, "Cookeville is a hidden gem in Tennessee. It's not too big and not too small, and there's a real sense of community here. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."
based on 12 ReviewsGet to know Cookeville with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Cookeville
Downhill Dramatically - 2/19/2022
I lived in Cookeville for around 7 years non consecutively. Don’t expect to go on a walk here. Sidewalks are fairly abundant but they are not well maintained and there are no emissions rules. Most of the time you’ll want to drive with your windows up, your air on recycle, and avoid walking on the streets. Sidewalks are fairly abundant, however I developed asthma shortly after moving back due to car exhaust. Black soot tends to build up if you live next to a road. Recently there has been a large increase in the homeless population and rather than get them out of the elements the city has opted to put up “No Panhandling” signs suggesting people should donate to “charities.” Cookeville’s road infrastructure is inadequate for the number of people that live here. They are still stuck on traffic lights for intersections and due to the lack of turn lanes, traffic is very start/stop. It’s not a well off area. You’ll often see pedestrians walking to work in inclement weather because they cant
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Not a good outlook for the area. - 6/11/2021
My wife and I both moved here to work for state government. Other people are right, the pay is awful, hovering around $28k for people with masters and doctorates. Rental houses are going from $1600+, apartments are going from $1200+, and mortgages are in the $350-400k range. There is little to do, other than shopping for food and clothes.
The area is very conservative and evangelical. There is a "good ole boy" system between all the major players in politics, the judiciary, and law enforcement. Stay away from law enforcement due to how crooked they are. This is also true with the surrounding counties. Everyone from the surrounding counties come to Cookeville for low-paying work and to spend their money, because there is nothing in their counties either.
I have tons of clients with mental health and substance abuse issues and no one wants to help them. There are hardly any services or supports for an hour and a half to two hours in any direction. Churches
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Crime and drug ridden, poor schools. - 7/31/2020
Been here for 4-5 years now, crime is on the rise and pay is stagnant, don't look for much over 28k a year in gross income here.
Lots of areas are getting metro traffic runoff which means all the unsavory sort from the metros who can't afford to live there are now crowding the town. Tech has some terribly rude students, the people aren't friendly and work off a 5 big family or who you know good ole boys club. In reality this town is just a bigger version of its neighboring city. Sparta. Don't be fooled by the reviews, 40 years ago this town was the utopia of the Cumberland but with recent events Crossville is a better choice, if not by much. Don't even get me started on the school system, only 1 school is rated well in the elementary sect and you have to know someone to really get into that area.
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Nice Place to Live - 1/10/2011
Overall a nice place to live. One hour from Nashville. This city has a little of everything. It's more laid back versus hustle & bustle of larger city. The climate has 4 seasons with none being too extreme. The crime rate is low & most of the people are friendly. The cost of living is afforable when compared to the rest of the country. Jobs are not plentiful. It's a better place to retire then to
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Where do we go? - 6/25/2009
In a month my mother and i are moving from Michigan to Tennessee, To get away from my father. We picked Cookeville Tennessee because it is a lot like where we are living now. But is the best place to move in Tennessee? I have one year of High school left, so i will need a good high school. Then my mother and i plan on going to college together, so we would like to be close to some Coumnity College. Also we need a place with ample jobs, to pay for things. we are only starting off with 800$.We our putting our faith in God and hopping for the best, with your help as
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Great Place To Live - 6/2/2008
My family moved to Cookeville in 1976. This is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We are located on the Cumberland Plateau in middle Tennessee. A beautiful scenic area with several clear water lakes. The elementary and secondary public school system in very good and complemented by the excellent Tennessee Technological University. Excellent educational opportunities are available at all levels for diverse interests. The region is blessed to have one of the best medical communities in the state anchored by Cookeville Regional Medical Center which has been recognized nationally numerous times for excellence. Though the population of Putnam County is only about 70,000, the city serves as the center of activity for education, health care, retail, dining and government services for a regional population of about 300,000. Come on up to the Highlands of
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A few things to mention - 4/11/2008
*There is a grood mix of chain restaurants and mom/pop restaurants.
*It is a college town, so there is a neat culture that is brought in by the orchestras/theatricals/crafts/concerts/etc.
*The historical downtown district continues to grow and expand, putting in good retail stores and antique shops.
*A park in the middle of town is expanding at this time (spring 2008) and will be a great place for families and the young'uns. This park also hosts various outdoor concerts/theatricals in the ampitheatre each summer.
*There are great festivals on the downtown square each fall such as the Fall Fun Fest and Cookin' on the Square, as well as Christmas Parades.
*There are several great neighborhoods to settle in. There are lots of "fixer-upper" opportunities in cute houses.
*Cookeville is located just an 1-1 1/2 hours drive away from Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville. If you ever want to visit the big cities, take a weekend or an evening to do so. As a
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A good place to settle - 4/11/2008
I have lived in Cookeville most of my life. It has always had a very cozy feel, but it is continually growing, especially in the past twenty years. A few great things to mention:
*There is a grood mix of chain restaurants and mom/pop restaurants.
*It is a college town, so there is a neat culture that is brought in by the orchestras/theatricals/crafts/concerts/etc.
*The historical downtown district continues to grow and expand, putting in good retail stores and antique shops.
*A park in the middle of town is expanding at this time (spring 2008) and will be a great place for families and the young'uns. This park also hosts various outdoor concerts/theatricals in the ampitheatre each summer.
*There are great festivals on the downtown square each fall such as the Fall Fun Fest and Cookin' on the Square, as well as Christmas Parades.
*There are several great neighborhoods to settle in. There are lots of "fixer-upper" opportunities in cute
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Definitely growing - 12/25/2006
Cookeville is definitely growing. In spite of a couple of major factory closings, there was a net increase of about 800 jobs between August and October 2006. In October 2006 Oreck (the vacuum cleaner people) moved about 100 jobs from its Mississippi factory to Cookeville, and in December 2006 they announced they're moving the rest of the factory to Cookeville, an additional 450 jobs. Averitt Express, which is headquartered in Cookeville, has announced it's adding over 400 jobs in Cookeville. Bank deposits have increased by 12 percent in the last year to about $1.2 billion. With all the retail expansion and the historic neighborhoods downtown, it's becoming quite an attractive
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C.C. - 8/15/2006
Cookeville is a great city in many ways. It has a small town feel with many big city benefits. The scenery is beautiful. There are numerous retail and restaurant choices, Tennessee Tech is a fine university, Cookeville Regional Hospital provides excellent service, and the public schools are very good.
However, the economy is not particularly strong. Over the past few years, Cookeville's manufacturing base has eroded with the loss of hundreds of jobs. I personally know of several Tennessee Tech graduates who wanted to settle in Cookeville but were forced to leave in search of jobs in larger communities. High paying jobs for college grads are scarce, and it seems that who you know or who you are related to makes or breaks job seekers. If you are not native to the area and/or without connections, your job search can be very difficult. My wife and I have lived here for ten years, and I am currently without a job as a former school teacher / HR manager. We are doing
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