What are the schools like in Central, TN?

School district data for Central is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Central?

The median household income in Central, TN is $38,690 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.

What is the weather like in Central, TN?

Central has an average high temperature of 46.2°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.0 inches.

Central, TN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Central, TN affordable or expensive?

Central's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Central is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $131,600 and the median rent is $730 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Central, TN?

Central has a violent crime rate of 131.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1056.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Central, TN a Good Place to Live?

Central is a small town of 1,942 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $38,690 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Central stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Central is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Central 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: 88.9

Central's overall cost of living index is 88.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Central costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Central, TN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$131,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$730	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,690	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Central's violent crime rate is 131.2 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

131.2 /100k

Property Crime

1056.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Central, TN	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Central sees average highs of 46.2°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 48.0 inches of annual precipitation and 6.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Central, TN
Average High — January	46.2°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	48.0"
Annual Snowfall	6.0"

Demographics

Metric	Central, TN	National Avg
Population	1,942	—
Median Age	54.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	11.6%	22.2%
65 and over	27.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Watauga, TN 2 mi Pine Crest, TN 3 mi Elizabethton, TN 3 mi Johnson City, TN 5 mi Biltmore, TN 5 mi

Central vs Other Cities

Central, TN vs Watauga, TN Central, TN vs Pine Crest, TN Central, TN vs Elizabethton, TN Central, TN vs Johnson City, TN Central, TN vs Biltmore, TN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Central, TN affordable or expensive?

Central's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Central roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $131,600 and median rent is $730/month.

What is the crime rate in Central, TN?

Central's violent crime rate is 131.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1056.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Central?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Central, TN a good place to live?

Central, TN has a population of 1,942, a median household income of $38,690, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Central?

Central averages 46.2°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.0 inches with about 6.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Central?

The population of Central, Tennessee is 1,942 with a median age of 54.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Central?

Key numbers for living in Central: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $131,600, median household income $38,690, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.