Tuckaleechee-sunrise2 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 2.5Tuckaleecheesign1 · Brian Stansberry (photographer) / CC BY 2.5Railroadlrlc2 · Brian Stansberry / CC BY 2.5Headricks's Motel, Townsend, TN IMG 5006 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0
Townsend is a small town of 583 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $78,659
and a 4.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Townsend stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Townsend is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Townsend 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
Townsend's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Townsend costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Townsend, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$299,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$975
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
92.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$78,659
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Townsend's violent crime rate is 286.3 per 100,000 residents
— 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
286.3 /100k
Property Crime
777.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Townsend is served primarily by Blount County.
Metric
Townsend, TN
National Avg
School District
Blount County
—
Elementary Schools
14
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
31.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Townsend sees average highs of 47.0°F in January
and 81.5°F in July,
with 60.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.4 inches of snow per year.
Townsend's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Townsend roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $299,600 and median rent is $975/month.
Townsend's violent crime rate is 286.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 777.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Townsend are operated by Blount County.
The district has 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
31.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Townsend, TN has a population of 583, a median household income of $78,659, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
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.
Townsend averages 47.0°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.3 inches
with about 9.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Townsend, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37882.
The population of Townsend, Tennessee is 583 with a median age of 52.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Townsend: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $299,600, median household income $78,659, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Townsend side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
