The Town FilesBenton, Tennessee
Town in Polk County · population 1,523 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,200
- Household income
- $29,414
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 38.8
Benton is a town of 1,523 people in Polk County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $184,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 72% of Tennessee towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $184,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $29,414, which is more affordable than 2% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $472 a month. 50.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $472 | $863 |
| Median household income | $29,414 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 50.6% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 15 deaths and 433 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 17, 2018.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 23 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 |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 2,759 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,945 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Benton
3 public schools with 1,133 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County High School | 9-12 | 446 | 15.9 |
| Benton Elementary | PK-5 | 395 | 15.8 |
| Chilhowee Middle School | 6-8 | 292 | 13.9 |
Towns near Benton
- Delano, TN7.6 mi · 777 people · home $163,500
- Charleston, TN9.8 mi · 664 people · home $217,400
- Calhoun, TN10.1 mi · 536 people · home $179,700
- East Cleveland, TN11.5 mi · 1,725 people · home $124,100
- Cleveland, TN12.4 mi · 47,356 people · home $272,200
- Wildwood Lake, TN12.6 mi · 3,286 people · home $231,700
- Etowah, TN13.3 mi · 3,603 people · home $190,800
- Riceville, TN15.1 mi · 688 people · home $286,500
Benton questions
Is Benton, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 30% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 58%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $184,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $29,414, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $472 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. 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)