Parsons is a small town of 2,452 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $39,000
and a 7.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Parsons stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Parsons is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Parsons 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: 87.4
Parsons's overall cost of living index is 87.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Parsons costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Parsons, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$117,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$683
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Parsons's violent crime rate is 945.2 per 100,000 residents
— 149% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
945.2 /100k
Property Crime
1323.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Parsons is served primarily by Decatur County.
Metric
Parsons, TN
National Avg
School District
Decatur County
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Parsons sees average highs of 50.4°F in January
and 90.9°F in July,
with 57.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Parsons's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Parsons roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $117,400 and median rent is $683/month.
Parsons's violent crime rate is 945.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1323.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Parsons are operated by Decatur County.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
7.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Parsons, TN has a population of 2,452, a median household income of $39,000, and an unemployment rate of 7.2%.
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.
Parsons averages 50.4°F in January and 90.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.1 inches
with about 1.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Parsons, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38363.
The population of Parsons, Tennessee is 2,452 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Parsons: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $117,400, median household income $39,000, crime index 174 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Parsons side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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