Hey hey @eastbound555. You the one doing the creative writing MFA? Cool, I'm doing the LCTS MA.
I've lived in Knoxville all my life. If you can find a doable rent in West Knoxville, specifically the Bearden/West Hills areas, that's what you want. Across the river (South Knox) is, as you say, pretty good. "The Fort"---very close to campus, near the strip---is...fine. It'll be more expensive, but about the worst thing you'll have to worry about is drunken frat guys wandering around and being loud in the Fall.
That's about all I can think of right now. Hit me up if you've got other questions.