Erwin is a small town of 6,026 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $40,670
and a 4.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Erwin 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 Erwin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Erwin 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
Erwin's overall cost of living index is 88.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Erwin costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Erwin, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$150,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$606
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,670
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Erwin's violent crime rate is 50.6 per 100,000 residents
— 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
50.6 /100k
Property Crime
556.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Erwin is served primarily by Unicoi County.
Metric
Erwin, TN
National Avg
School District
Unicoi County
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Erwin sees average highs of 47.3°F in January
and 85.4°F in July,
with 47.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.3 inches of snow per year.
Erwin's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Erwin roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $150,800 and median rent is $606/month.
Erwin's violent crime rate is 50.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 556.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Erwin are operated by Unicoi County.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
15.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Erwin, TN has a population of 6,026, a median household income of $40,670, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
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.
Erwin averages 47.3°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.0 inches
with about 9.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Erwin, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37650.
The population of Erwin, Tennessee is 6,026 with a median age of 46.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Erwin: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $150,800, median household income $40,670, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Erwin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
