Tellico-Plains-town-square-tn · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 4.0View of town - NARA - 280602 · Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainTellico-plains-from-school-tn1 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Tellico Plains is a small town of 1,275 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $39,886
and a 6.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Tellico Plains stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Tellico Plains is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Tellico Plains 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: 88.2
Tellico Plains's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Tellico Plains costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Tellico Plains, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$158,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,886
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Tellico Plains's violent crime rate is 1024.3 per 100,000 residents
— 170% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1024.3 /100k
Property Crime
4737.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Tellico Plains is served primarily by Monroe County.
Metric
Tellico Plains, TN
National Avg
School District
Monroe County
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Tellico Plains sees average highs of 50.5°F in January
and 90.0°F in July,
with 55.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.8 inches of snow per year.
Tellico Plains's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Tellico Plains roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $158,500 and median rent is $625/month.
Tellico Plains's violent crime rate is 1024.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4737.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Tellico Plains are operated by Monroe County.
The district has 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Tellico Plains, TN has a population of 1,275, a median household income of $39,886, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%.
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.
Tellico Plains averages 50.5°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.2 inches
with about 2.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Tellico Plains, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37385.
The population of Tellico Plains, Tennessee is 1,275 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Tellico Plains: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $158,500, median household income $39,886, crime index 252 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tellico Plains side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
