Very AffordableNear National AverageFranklin County
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Cowan is a small town of 1,827 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $33,955
and a 12.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cowan stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cowan is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cowan 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: 87.2
Cowan's overall cost of living index is 87.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cowan costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cowan, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$109,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$700
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
52.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$33,955
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Cowan's violent crime rate is 562.1 per 100,000 residents
— 48% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
562.1 /100k
Property Crime
1236.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cowan is served primarily by Franklin County.
Metric
Cowan, TN
National Avg
School District
Franklin County
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cowan sees average highs of 48.9°F in January
and 87.3°F in July,
with 57.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.1 inches of snow per year.
Cowan's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cowan roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $109,400 and median rent is $700/month.
Cowan's violent crime rate is 562.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1236.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cowan are operated by Franklin County.
The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
10.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cowan, TN has a population of 1,827, a median household income of $33,955, and an unemployment rate of 12.5%.
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.
Cowan averages 48.9°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.7 inches
with about 4.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cowan, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37318.
The population of Cowan, Tennessee is 1,827 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cowan: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $109,400, median household income $33,955, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cowan side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
