I vote for TN but NC is great too. I love the mountains and streams and rivers and waterfalls and farm houses.... I live near Knoxville, and I find out about a different fabric/quilt store every time I talk to someone! My family and I love to do "road trips" but after my son was hit by a car, we had to make them much shorter. We discovered lots of things to do closer to home. The only place we are planning on going to that is more than half a tank of gas is Wythville, VA. Awwwww.. now I want to go to NC!
The cost of living is pretty good here too. We have 2 houses-a two BR in the city that I bought in 2007 for $40K and a four bedroom in the country for $65K. Right now, we rent the 2-br out for $550. It's really cute and not in a bad area. OTOH, we bought a trailer last year and fixed it up and it cost a total of $4k. It is set up in a park that rents for $200/month. You can spend as much as you want, though, there are plenty of lakeside houses going for 100 times more!
Jobs are available, no state income tax (sales tax is 9.75%), and decent property tax. You can drive down the road and see a multi-million dollar house and go around the curve and see the "stereo typical" house/trailer with a rebel flag and cars on blocks in the yard... But I think that kind of diversity is everywhere... Going to Walmart goes under "Entertainment" in the budget!!
This is fun! Good luck!!