Plainview is a small town of 2,357 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $58,352
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Plainview stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Plainview is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Plainview 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: 92.8
Plainview's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Plainview costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Plainview, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$142,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$826
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,352
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Plainview's violent crime rate is 90.4 per 100,000 residents
— 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
90.4 /100k
Property Crime
677.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Plainview is served primarily by Knox County.
Metric
Plainview, TN
National Avg
School District
Knox County
—
Elementary Schools
54
—
Middle Schools
17
—
High Schools
19
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Plainview sees average highs of 44.4°F in January
and 85.1°F in July,
with 53.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.1 inches of snow per year.
Plainview's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Plainview roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $142,600 and median rent is $826/month.
Plainview's violent crime rate is 90.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 677.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Plainview are operated by Knox County.
The district has 54 elementary, 17 middle, and 19 high schools.
7.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Plainview, TN has a population of 2,357, a median household income of $58,352, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
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.
Plainview averages 44.4°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.4 inches
with about 3.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Plainview, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37721.
The population of Plainview, Tennessee is 2,357 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Plainview: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $142,600, median household income $58,352, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Plainview side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
