GraingerCountyCourthouse2020 · AppalachianCentrist / CC BY-SA 4.0RutledgeTN1900s · Unknown author / Public domainAndrew-johnson-tailor-shop-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Rutledge is a small town of 1,550 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $30,739
and a 3.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rutledge 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 Rutledge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rutledge 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: 87.7
Rutledge's overall cost of living index is 87.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rutledge costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rutledge, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$130,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$552
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,739
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rutledge's violent crime rate is 120.1 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
120.1 /100k
Property Crime
733.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rutledge is served primarily by Grainger County.
Metric
Rutledge, TN
National Avg
School District
Grainger County
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
75.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rutledge sees average highs of 45.9°F in January
and 85.5°F in July,
with 47.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.2 inches of snow per year.
Rutledge's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rutledge roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $130,800 and median rent is $552/month.
Rutledge's violent crime rate is 120.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 733.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rutledge are operated by Grainger County.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
11.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rutledge, TN has a population of 1,550, a median household income of $30,739, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%.
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.
Rutledge averages 45.9°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.4 inches
with about 10.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rutledge, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37861.
The population of Rutledge, Tennessee is 1,550 with a median age of 45.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rutledge: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $130,800, median household income $30,739, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rutledge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
