The Town FilesBethel Springs, Tennessee
Town in McNairy County · population 742 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,000
- Household income
- $34,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 45.4
Bethel Springs is a town of 742 people in McNairy County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $149,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks quieter than 79% of Tennessee towns, better for families than 78% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 78% of Tennessee towns.
How Bethel Springs 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 Bethel Springs is worth $149,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $34,500, which is more affordable than 27% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 78.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bethel Springs | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $718 | $863 |
| Median household income | $34,500 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 78.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Bethel Springs
| People | Bethel Springs | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.5% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Bethel Springs
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 59.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel Springs since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 23, 2015 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 18 deaths and 130 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 5, 2008.
Severe weather in McNairy County since 1996
McNairy County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| April 7, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4701: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in McNairy County
McNairy County had 5,600 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,747 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Bethel Springs itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Bethel Springs
1 public school with 458 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Springs Elementary | PK-8 | 458 | 13.5 |
Towns near Bethel Springs
- Selmer, TN4.5 mi · 4,446 people · home $155,900
- Eastview, TN10.7 mi · 763 people · home $153,300
- Adamsville, TN12.9 mi · 2,265 people · home $148,600
- Henderson, TN14.6 mi · 6,308 people · home $147,900
- Crump, TN15.9 mi · 1,594 people · home $151,500
- Michie, TN16.0 mi · 679 people · home $166,500
- Middleton, TN19.5 mi · 658 people · home $122,100
- Corinth, MS20.5 mi · 14,622 people · home $177,100
Bethel Springs questions
Is Bethel Springs, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bethel Springs scores better for retirees than 12% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 79%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.4).
How much does a house cost in Bethel Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Bethel Springs is valued at $149,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,500, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Bethel Springs?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Bethel Springs get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bethel Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 23, 2015. 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)