Mountain-City-Church-Street-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Roderick-butler-house-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Mountain-City-Iron-Mountains-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0US Post Office, Mountain City, TN · ResearcherQ / CC BY-SA 3.0
Mountain City is a small town of 2,396 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $32,383
and a 9.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is
17% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mountain City 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 Mountain City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mountain City 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: 83.3
Mountain City's overall cost of living index is 83.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mountain City costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mountain City, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$146,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$356
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$32,383
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mountain City's violent crime rate is 80.7 per 100,000 residents
— 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
80.7 /100k
Property Crime
887.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mountain City is served primarily by Johnson County.
Metric
Mountain City, TN
National Avg
School District
Johnson County
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
73.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mountain City sees average highs of 45.5°F in January
and 82.0°F in July,
with 47.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.0 inches of snow per year.
Mountain City's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mountain City roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $146,700 and median rent is $356/month.
Mountain City's violent crime rate is 80.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 887.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mountain City are operated by Johnson County.
The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
9.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mountain City, TN has a population of 2,396, a median household income of $32,383, and an unemployment rate of 9.1%.
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.
Mountain City averages 45.5°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.2 inches
with about 12.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mountain City, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37683.
The population of Mountain City, Tennessee is 2,396 with a median age of 51.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mountain City: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $146,700, median household income $32,383, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mountain City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
