Median Income
$37,000
household / year
Median Home Value
$123,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,100
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100

Is Mason, TN a Good Place to Live?

Mason is a small town of 1,221 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $37,000 and a 12.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mason is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mason 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: 92.4

Mason's overall cost of living index is 92.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mason costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric Mason, TN National Avg
Median Home Value $123,200 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,100 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 51.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $37,000 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Mason's violent crime rate is 388.0 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
388.0 /100k
Property Crime
1022.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric Mason, 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 12.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 80.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mason sees average highs of 46.3°F in January and 89.0°F in July, with 53.9 inches of annual precipitation and 3.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricMason, TN
Average High — January46.3°F
Average High — July89.0°F
Annual Precipitation53.9"
Annual Snowfall3.4"

Demographics

MetricMason, TNNational Avg
Population1,221—
Median Age36.738.9
Unemployment Rate12.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time25.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)24.6%59.3%
Black or African American70.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino1.7%18.9%
Asian1.6%6.3%
Under 1817.0%22.2%
65 and over10.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mason vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Mason's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mason roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $123,200 and median rent is $1,100/month.
Mason's violent crime rate is 388.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1022.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Mason, TN has a population of 1,221, a median household income of $37,000, and an unemployment rate of 12.1%. 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.
Mason averages 46.3°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.9 inches with about 3.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Mason, Tennessee is 1,221 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mason: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $123,200, median household income $37,000, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mason side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.