As mentioned, it depends on what you want. Plenty of good golf for cheap, plenty of fishing, mountain scenery and just all sorts of outdoors stuff to do. You're also only 100 miles from Knoxville in Gray and it's all interstate to get there. The Tri Cities is growing like a weed because it's one of the cheapest places in the country to live. So to answer the question you've made like five times without getting an answer, you'll take $16/hr much further in Gray than you will in Knoxville. Plenty of shopping and restaurants in Johnson City or Kingsport and if that isn't enough, Exit 7 of Bristol, VA has tons more and is maybe 30 minutes away.
Knoxville is Knoxville though. Plenty of night life, the Vols and even more shopping and restaurants. Lots more people and lots more urban sprawl. It's your call.