The Town FilesAltamont, Tennessee
Town in Grundy County · population 1,117 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,900
- Household income
- $41,373
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 47.3
Altamont is a town of 1,117 people in Grundy County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $91,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 92% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Tennessee towns.
How Altamont ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Altamont is worth $91,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $41,373, which is more affordable than 93% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $850 a month. 91.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altamont | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $850 | $863 |
| Median household income | $41,373 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 91.6% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Altamont
| People | Altamont | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 34.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Altamont
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 63.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altamont since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 6, 2018 about 3.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 3, 2007.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Grundy County
Grundy County had 2,070 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,399 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Altamont itself the ACS puts it at 13%.
Public schools in Altamont
1 public school with 376 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Elementary | PK-8 | 376 | 15.7 |
Towns near Altamont
- Coalmont, TN6.4 mi · 784 people · home $151,400
- Gruetli-Laager, TN7.1 mi · 1,742 people · home $154,700
- Palmer, TN11.1 mi · 551 people · home $78,900
- Tracy City, TN11.8 mi · 1,406 people · home $136,300
- Monteagle, TN15.1 mi · 1,393 people · home $309,500
- Morrison, TN15.3 mi · 733 people · home $187,500
- McMinnville, TN17.6 mi · 13,788 people · home $182,200
- Manchester, TN18.9 mi · 12,212 people · home $237,400
Altamont questions
Is Altamont, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altamont scores better for retirees than 15% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 92%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Altamont?
The median owner-occupied home in Altamont is valued at $91,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,373, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $850 a month.
What is the weather like in Altamont?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Altamont get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altamont since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 6, 2018. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)