Baxter is a small town of 1,477 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $57,829
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Baxter stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Baxter is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Baxter city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.1
Baxter's overall cost of living index is 91.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Baxter costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Baxter, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$182,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$826
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,829
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Baxter's violent crime rate is 241.8 per 100,000 residents
— 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
241.8 /100k
Property Crime
773.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Baxter is served primarily by Putnam County.
Metric
Baxter, TN
National Avg
School District
Putnam County
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Baxter sees average highs of 47.1°F in January
and 87.3°F in July,
with 59.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.1 inches of snow per year.
Baxter's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Baxter roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $182,500 and median rent is $826/month.
Baxter's violent crime rate is 241.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 773.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Baxter are operated by Putnam County.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
9.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Baxter, TN has a population of 1,477, a median household income of $57,829, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Baxter averages 47.1°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.9 inches
with about 6.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Baxter, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38544.
The population of Baxter, Tennessee is 1,477 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Baxter: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $182,500, median household income $57,829, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Baxter side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
