The Town FilesBells, Tennessee
City in Crockett County · population 2,463 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,000
- Household income
- $56,027
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 32.0
Bells is a city of 2,463 people in Crockett County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $169,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Tennessee towns.
How Bells 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 Bells is worth $169,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $56,027, which is more affordable than 76% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,001 a month. 50.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bells | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,001 | $863 |
| Median household income | $56,027 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bells
| People | Bells | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 31.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 2.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in Bells
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bells since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 5, 2008 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on February 5, 2008.
Severe weather in Crockett County since 1996
Crockett County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| 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 Crockett County
Crockett County had 4,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,619 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Bells itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Bells
1 public school with 411 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bells Elementary | PK-5 | 411 | 13.7 |
Towns near Bells
- Alamo, TN4.7 mi · 2,336 people · home $141,500
- Maury City, TN10.2 mi · 583 people · home $78,900
- Humboldt, TN12.6 mi · 7,874 people · home $102,300
- Brownsville, TN13.2 mi · 9,788 people · home $158,100
- Three Way, TN13.3 mi · 1,877 people · home $250,700
- Jackson, TN14.5 mi · 68,205 people · home $217,800
- Friendship, TN15.7 mi · 613 people · home $108,000
- Medina, TN17.8 mi · 5,126 people · home $287,200
Bells questions
Is Bells, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bells scores better for retirees than 39% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 11%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Bells?
The median owner-occupied home in Bells is valued at $169,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,027, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,001 a month.
What is the weather like in Bells?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Bells get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 5, 2008. 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)