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Americans flock to these mid-size cities due to their affordability amid high cost of urban living

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Americans flock to these mid-size cities due to their affordability amid high cost of urban living

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Knoxville, Tennessee is one of the fastest growing mid-size cities in America, attracting thousands of new residents a year, according to recent data. 

More Americans are moving from large metropolitan areas to mid-size cities and Knoxville was among the top destinations with 70% of moves inbound in 2023, behind only Wilmington, North Carolina, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to a new study released by Mayflower Transit. Knox County, which includes Knoxville, expects to have about 557,000 residents by 2040, which is a 16% increase from 2020, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. 

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Mayflower surveyed thousands of individuals across the U.S. over the course of the last two years to determine the factors that drove them to choose a particular city and 91% of movers said cost of living was one of the key factors when deciding where to buy a home. According to data collected by RentCafe.com, the cost of living in Knoxville is 4% lower than the state average and 14% lower than the national average, with housing costs 28% below the national average. 

WINNERS AND LOSERS: THE TOP US STATES PEOPLE MOVED TO AND FROM IN 2023

Boats in the Vol Navy on the Tennessee River outside Neyland Stadium with the Knoxville skyline in the background prior to a game between the Indiana State Sycamores and Tennessee Volunteers on September 9, 2017, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN.  (Getty Images)

“Knoxville offers a compelling blend of low living costs, quality education anchored by the University of Tennessee, and a strong sense of community,” real estate, business and finance expert Jarrod Randolph told Fox News Digital. “Its appeal is further enhanced by its proximity to outdoor activities as a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, vibrant downtown, and cultural richness, making it an attractive destination for diverse demographics.”

Nearly half of movers said proximity to arts and cultural venues played a role in where they moved, about two thirds said the weather was a leading factor, while over 60% said proximity to parks, green spaces and nature trails was important, according to Mayflower data. 

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“While larger cities have traditionally been associated with higher expenses, mid-size cities offer a more affordable lifestyle without compromising on amenities and opportunities,” Mayflower’s Vice President of Corporate Communications Eily Cummings said in a press release. “Our customers are sharing incredible stories of the importance of living near an abundance of outdoor space, where they have access to arts and cultural venues, some nightlife and less traffic. As the benefits of living in mid-size cities become more apparent, it is expected that this trend will continue to shape the future of urban living across the country.”  

In addition, 32% of people said they decided to make the move to a mid-sized city to be closer to family, 28% pointed to financial considerations, 19% said it was because they had accepted a new job and 61% of movers said higher pay was a determining factor in their decision to relocate. 

Mid-sized cities also often offer a strong sense of community and a slower pace of life when compared to urban areas, according to Mayflower. Residents of mid-sized cities reported feeling more connected to their neighbors and experiencing a greater sense of belonging. 

“Knoxville isn’t a small town, but it’s not big like Los Angeles,” Ron Wollard, who recently moved from California to Knoxville, Tennessee, to be closer to family, told Mayflower. “There is lots to do, Smoky Mountain National Park is right here so there are recreational opportunities and a thriving economy. It is a nice blend, and it is not a problem getting from one place to another.”

The Tennessee Theater in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S., on Friday, May 1, 2020.  Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The U-Haul growth index, which looks at one-way customer moves during the past year, included Knoxville as its 17th destination among the top 25 U.S. growth cities of 2023. 

“Knoxville has a great sense of community and is naturally beautiful. It’s no surprise that people want to move here,” U-Haul Company of Knoxville president Clay McQuade said in a press release. “I think we are continuing to see the trend of people moving from large metro areas into small and mid-size cities.”

Randolph said a main reason why mid-sized cities are growing in popularity when compared to large metropolitan areas is largely as a result of shifting preferences among millennials. 

CHARLOTTE SOARS AS A TOP MOVING DESTINATION IN 2023: ‘BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT IS AFFORDABLE’

“A key demographic in this migration are millennials, who are increasingly prioritizing work-life balance, affordability, and quality of living,” he said. “Their movement towards mid-size cities reflects a shift in lifestyle preferences, away from the high costs and density of large urban centers.”

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“The city’s diverse economy, encompassing sectors like automotive, aerospace, energy, healthcare, and high-tech, contributes to its appeal,” he added. “Knoxville’s job market is robust, with a notable presence of high-tech industries and significant growth in tech-related GDP.”

Randolph serves as CEO and Managing Partner of real estate investment company, Vestre Partners, and said this trend aligns with studies they’ve conducted. 

“At Vestre Partners, we’re closely monitoring these trends to identify promising real estate development opportunities,” he said. “Our focus is on cities like Knoxville, which align with the emerging housing and lifestyle preferences of today’s homebuyers, especially those seeking a balance of urban amenities and community living.”

Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee.  (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

“Recently, we’ve observed a significant trend: late-stage millennials are actively seeking housing that aligns with these evolving preferences,” he added. “Knoxville, in particular, has emerged as an outstanding city in this regard. It’s been a key focus of ours for the past 18 months, standing out as a prime example of the kind of vibrant, opportunity-rich environment we target.”

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WHY IS SOUTH CAROLINA THE NUMBER ONE PLACE AMERICANS ARE MOVING TO? EXPERT SAYS IT CHECKS ‘ALL THE BOXES’

Randolph also explained that the reasons behind urban migration are multifaceted, citing the political climate, lifestyle changes post-COVID and the evolution of work culture, including the rise of remote work as an influential factor impacting people’s decisions to relocate. 

He explained that the “suffocating density of big cities” and the “soaring cost of living” are huge factors for why millennials, who are in constant “pursuit of a harmonious work-life balance,” as well as affordability, a dynamic job market, spacious living and pleasant climate, are moving to mid-size cities.

“The shift towards remote work has significantly impacted where people choose to live,” he said. “It’s no longer just about job location but also about quality of life, family needs, and personal preferences. This trend is particularly evident among late-stage millennials.”

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Charlotte residents say they feel less safe as city faces second transit stabbing

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Charlotte residents say they feel less safe as city faces second transit stabbing

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Two in three Charlotte, North Carolina, residents say they feel less safe today than they did a year ago, according to a recent survey, as the city reels from two train stabbings.

More than 930 people responded to a survey that the Queen City recently completed before hiring its new police chief, Stella Patterson. Residents overwhelmingly said they want a proactive police force, not a reactive one, with 66% saying they feel less safe.

The results come as Charlotte contends with another stabbing on its light rail system, months after the stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.

On Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to a call regarding assault with a deadly weapon. When they arrived, they found the victim, identified as Kenyon Kareem-Shemar Dobie, with a stab wound, according to warrants.

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Oscar Solorzano, 33, was arrested in connection to a stabbing on a Charlotte, North Carolina light rail. (Mecklenburg County Jail)

NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS FALL SILENT AFTER ICE ARRESTS DOZENS WITH VIOLENT RECORDS

Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia, 33, of Honduras, was arrested after the stabbing and charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with serious injury, breaking/entering a motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon and intoxicated/disruptive behavior, according to multiple Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sources and arrest warrants obtained by Fox News Digital. 

On Monday morning, Solorzano appeared in court, where he was denied bond. The 33-year-old appeared via Zoom in an orange jumpsuit where he was charged. Authorities revealed that Solorzano, prior to the Dec. 5 attack, was banned by Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).

CMPD noted Dobie was in critical but stable condition when he was taken to a hospital.

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The victim told WRAL News that he saw Solorzano yelling at an older woman before Solorzano handed his bike to another passenger and said: “I’m about to show you who I really am.”

“I wasn’t trying to be a macho man,” Dobie said in a TikTok post from his hospital room. “But what I won’t allow is you to attack random people for no reason, especially the elderly.”

Dobie said he jumped up and told Solorzano to leave everyone alone. He said Solarzano then grabbed his hands and stabbed him as he tried to grab him back.

Police in North Carolina have charged a 33-year-old man from Honduras with critically injuring another person in a stabbing on a Charlotte commuter train, just a few months after a Ukrainian refugee was murdered. (WJZY)

According to court documents, reviewed by Fox News Digital, Solorzano broke into a railroad car “with the intent to commit a felony,” while carrying a large fixed-blade knife.

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While intoxicated, he challenged Dobie to a fight, cursing and shouting at others using “unintelligible and slurred words,” according to court documents.

He was booted from the country by the Trump administration in March 2018 on a deportation order and reentered illegally during the Biden administration at the Texas border in March 2021, DHS sources said.

WATCH: Migrant who was deported twice accused of Charlotte light rail stabbing

CHARLOTTE MAN CHARGED WITH IRYNA ZARUTSKA’S KILLING COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY

Solorzano was deported a second time by the Biden administration and reentered illegally as a got-away at an unknown time and location.

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Solorzano has a prior conviction for robbery in the U.S. and prior arrests for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and false ID, DHS sources said.

Court records indicate he had known aliases, including Solorzano-Garcia, Oscar Herardo and Kevin Garcia.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks alongside a photo of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was allegedly killed by Decarlos Brown Jr., on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the White House, Sept. 9, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

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The stabbing attack comes months after Zarutska, 23, was fatally stabbed on a LYNX Blue Line light rail while on her way home from work from a local pizzeria shop.

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Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who is accused of killing Zarutska, was charged with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death, a capital offense under federal law.

Brown had a history of violent crime, including assaults and robberies, and had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Yet he was still free and walking the streets.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the city of Charlotte and the CMPD for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Alexander Koch and Fox News’ Bill Melugin and Chelsea Torres contributed to this report.

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Murdaugh trial court clerk pleads guilty to showing sealed crime scene photos to photographer

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Murdaugh trial court clerk pleads guilty to showing sealed crime scene photos to photographer

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A former South Carolina court clerk pleaded guilty Monday in connection with showing sealed court exhibits related to the murder trial of disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh to a photographer and lying about it in court.

Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill, who served as the court clerk in Colleton County, pleaded guilty to four charges — obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter photographs that were sealed court exhibits and then lying about it, plus two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting a book she wrote on the trial through her public office. 

“There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them and will carry that shame the rest of my life,” Hill said in a statement read to the court.

She was sentenced to three years of probation.

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ALEX MURDAUGH’S MONEY MAN PAYS THE PRICE AFTER ADMITTING ROLE IN MILLION-DOLLAR CRIME SCHEME

Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill is sworn in before taking the stand to testify during the Alex Murdaugh jury-tampering hearing at the Richland County Judicial Center, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP)

Her sentence would have been much harsher had evidence surfaced that she tampered with the murder trial, Judge Heath Taylor told Hill. 

During Murdaugjh’s murder trial, Hill was responsible for taking care of the jury, overseeing exhibits and assisting the judge. Murdaugh was eventually convicted of murdering his wife and son after a six-week trial, which drew nationwide attention.

Murdaugh’s lawyers said Hill tried to influence jurors to vote guilty and that she was biased against Murdaugh because of her book.

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ALEX MURDAUGH SLAMS NEW TRUE CRIME SERIES DEPICTING FAMILY’S DOUBLE-MURDER: ‘MISLEADING PORTRAYALS’

Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill smiles after pleading guilty on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in St. Matthews, S.C. Hill pleaded guilty Monday to showing sealed exhibits from Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial and other charges. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Solicitor Rick Hubbard told the judge that a journalist informed investigators that Hill showed graphic crime scene photos to several media members.

He did not name the journalist.

The photos were posted online, and the metadata from the images matched a time when Hill’s courthouse key card indicated she was inside the locked room where the photos were kept, Hubbard said.

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Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill is sworn in during a court hearing on Monday in St. Matthews, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Hill resigned in March 2024. One of the charges against her stemmed from money prosecutors said she took for herself. She brought a check to court on Monday to repay nearly $10,000.

Journalist Neil Gordon who worked with Hill on “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders” and previously accused her of plagiarism, commented on Hill’s plea to Fox News Digital.

Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill pleaded guilty Monday to showing sealed exhibits from disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial and other charges. (Fox Nation/ Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool)

“I appreciate seeing Becky step up and take responsibility for her actions, including the charge of misconduct in office, as it was directly related to the book I co-authored with her,” he said in a statement. “The specific instance was her decision to arrange a “Facebook Live” from her clerk’s office with the Colleton County Chamber of Commerce solely to promote our book.”

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“The fact that it occurred during the workday showed boldness, poor judgement, and frankly ignorance of the oath she took as an elected official.,” he added. “Sadly, poor judgement around our book had been a pattern for Becky, as we later learned she plagiarized its preface.”

Meanwhile, Murdaugh is also serving a prison sentence for stealing money from his family’s law firm and client settlements.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Murdaugh’s attorney.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Florida designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations, DeSantis says

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Florida designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations, DeSantis says

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Florida is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday. 

The move mirrors a similar action taken by Texas in which Gov. Greg Abbott designated the CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations.

“Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support,” DeSantis wrote on X. 

TRUMP MOVES AGAINST MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AS ISLAMIST GROUP SPREADS IN WEST

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantissaid CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood will be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.  (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

The governor’s order said the Muslim Brotherhood has long engaged in and supported violence, political assassinations and terror attacks on civilians with the intent of establishing a worldwide Islamic caliphate. 

It also said the group, as well as Hamas have active fundraising arms in the United States. 

SCATHING REPORT CALLS ON US TO LABEL ISLAMIST GROUP INFILTRATING ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE AS TERRORIST ORG

The order said CAIR, which was created to challenge stereotypes against Islam and Muslims, has had individuals associated with it that have been convicted of providing and aspiring to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations. 

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In a post on X, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said: “Great news! Thanks for this important Executive Order, Governor. We are ready to support!”

A joint statement by CAIR and its Florida chapter said the DeSantis administration has prioritized serving their interest of the Israeli government over the people of the state. 

“He diverted millions in Florida taxpayer dollars to the Israeli government’s bonds. He threatened to shut down every Florida college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, only to back off when CAIR sued him in federal court,” the statement said. “Like Greg Abbott in Texas, Ron DeSantis is an Israel First politician who wants to smear and silence Americans, especially American Muslims, critical of U.S. support for Israel’s war crimes. Governor DeSantis knows full well that CAIR-Florida is an American civil rights organization that has spent decades advancing free speech, religious freedom, and justice for all, including for the Palestinian people. That’s precisely why Governor DeSantis is targeting our civil rights group with this unconstitutional and defamatory proclamation.

“We look forward to defeating Governor DeSantis’ latest Israel First stunt in a court of law, where facts matter and conspiracy theories have no weight,” the groups added. “In the meantime, we encourage all Floridians and all Americans to speak up against this latest attempt to shred the Constitution for the benefit of a foreign government.”

Florida’s designation is at the state level. It doesn’t carry the legal force of a federal Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listing, which only the U.S. State Department can issue. 

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In Texas, Muslim and interfaith leaders have demanded that Abott reverse his proclamation regarding CAIR. In a lawsuit against Texas over the governor’s declaration, CAIR argued that it violates both the U.S. Constitution and state law.

Texas Gov. Greg Abott designated CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, as a foreign terrorist organization.  (Getty Images)

The order violates its First Amendment rights and due-process protections, CAIR said, arguing that the state overstepped its authority because terrorism designations fall under federal, not state, jurisdiction.

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