Roan Mountain is a small town of 984 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $51,111
and a 4.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Roan Mountain stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Roan Mountain is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Roan Mountain 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: 88.9
Roan Mountain's overall cost of living index is 88.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Roan Mountain costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Roan Mountain, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$140,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,111
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Roan Mountain's violent crime rate is 131.2 per 100,000 residents
— 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
131.2 /100k
Property Crime
1056.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Roan Mountain is served primarily by Carter County.
Metric
Roan Mountain, TN
National Avg
School District
Carter County
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Roan Mountain sees average highs of 44.3°F in January
and 79.6°F in July,
with 52.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.2 inches of snow per year.
Roan Mountain's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Roan Mountain roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $140,400 and median rent is N/A/month.
Roan Mountain's violent crime rate is 131.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1056.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Roan Mountain are operated by Carter County.
The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 5 high schools.
21.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Roan Mountain, TN has a population of 984, a median household income of $51,111, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
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.
Roan Mountain averages 44.3°F in January and 79.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.5 inches
with about 48.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Roan Mountain, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37687.
The population of Roan Mountain, Tennessee is 984 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Roan Mountain: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $140,400, median household income $51,111, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Roan Mountain side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
