Ripley is a small town of 7,794 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $39,454
and a 9.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ripley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ripley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ripley 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: 87.6
Ripley's overall cost of living index is 87.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ripley costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ripley, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$688
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
45.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,454
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Ripley's violent crime rate is 1742.6 per 100,000 residents
— 359% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1742.6 /100k
Property Crime
2151.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ripley is served primarily by Lauderdale County.
Metric
Ripley, TN
National Avg
School District
Lauderdale County
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ripley sees average highs of 47.7°F in January
and 89.8°F in July,
with 56.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.4 inches of snow per year.
Ripley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ripley roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,900 and median rent is $688/month.
Ripley's violent crime rate is 1742.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2151.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ripley are operated by Lauderdale County.
The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
12.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ripley, TN has a population of 7,794, a median household income of $39,454, and an unemployment rate of 9.6%.
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.
Ripley averages 47.7°F in January and 89.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.8 inches
with about 2.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ripley, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38063.
The population of Ripley, Tennessee is 7,794 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ripley: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $119,900, median household income $39,454, crime index 316 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ripley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
