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Monterey is a small town of 2,751 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $38,869
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Monterey stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Monterey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Monterey 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: 87.8
Monterey's overall cost of living index is 87.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Monterey costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Monterey, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$131,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$674
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,869
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Monterey's violent crime rate is 364.3 per 100,000 residents
— 4% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
364.3 /100k
Property Crime
1311.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Monterey is served primarily by Putnam County.
Metric
Monterey, 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
6.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
74.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Monterey sees average highs of 43.1°F in January
and 84.2°F in July,
with 64.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 16.0 inches of snow per year.
Monterey's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Monterey roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $131,400 and median rent is $674/month.
Monterey's violent crime rate is 364.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1311.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Monterey are operated by Putnam County.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
6.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Monterey, TN has a population of 2,751, a median household income of $38,869, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Monterey averages 43.1°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 64.3 inches
with about 16.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Monterey, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38574.
The population of Monterey, Tennessee is 2,751 with a median age of 27.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Monterey: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $131,400, median household income $38,869, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Monterey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
