Cookeville-tennessee-at-sunset-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Johns-place-cookeville-tn · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0President Trump in Tennessee (49646131911) · The White House from Washington, DC / Public domainDowntown Cookeville · Jmtunafish / CC BY-SA 4.0
Cookeville is a small city of 34,967 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $48,094
and a 6.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cookeville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cookeville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cookeville 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: 92.7
Cookeville's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cookeville costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cookeville, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$241,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$855
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
40.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,094
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Cookeville's violent crime rate is 292.6 per 100,000 residents
— 23% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
292.6 /100k
Property Crime
1661.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cookeville is served primarily by Putnam County.
Metric
Cookeville, 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
34.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cookeville sees average highs of 47.1°F in January
and 87.3°F in July,
with 59.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 6.1 inches of snow per year.
Cookeville's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cookeville roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $241,200 and median rent is $855/month.
Cookeville's violent crime rate is 292.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1661.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cookeville are operated by Putnam County.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
34.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cookeville, TN has a population of 34,967, a median household income of $48,094, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.
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.
Cookeville averages 47.1°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.6 inches
with about 6.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cookeville, TN is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 38501, 38506, 38505, 38503.
The population of Cookeville, Tennessee is 34,967 with a median age of 29.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cookeville: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $241,200, median household income $48,094, crime index 78 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cookeville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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