The Town FilesBulls Gap, Tennessee
Town in Hawkins County · population 756 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,500
- Household income
- $52,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.3
Bulls Gap is a town of 756 people in Hawkins County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $178,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks quieter than 91% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 86% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 72% of Tennessee towns.
How Bulls Gap 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 Bulls Gap is worth $178,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $52,857, which is more affordable than 64% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $779 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bulls Gap | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $779 | $863 |
| Median household income | $52,857 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.5% | — |
Who lives in Bulls Gap
| People | Bulls Gap | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.7% | 88.2% |
Weather in Bulls Gap
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bulls Gap since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 27, 2011 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Hawkins County since 1996
Hawkins County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Hawkins County
Hawkins County had 12,055 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,373 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Bulls Gap itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Bulls Gap
2 public schools with 515 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls Gap School | PK-8 | 343 | 24.5 |
| St Clair Elementary | K-5 | 172 | 11.5 |
Towns near Bulls Gap
- Russellville, TN6.6 mi · 822 people · home $96,400
- Mosheim, TN7.7 mi · 2,479 people · home $160,700
- Mooresburg, TN10.7 mi · 877 people · home $181,100
- Rogersville, TN10.9 mi · 4,671 people · home $192,800
- Bean Station, TN12.7 mi · 2,967 people · home $164,600
- Morristown, TN12.9 mi · 30,431 people · home $181,100
- Greeneville, TN15.8 mi · 15,479 people · home $227,400
- White Pine, TN16.0 mi · 2,471 people · home $203,900
Bulls Gap questions
Is Bulls Gap, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bulls Gap scores better for retirees than 31% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 91%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Bulls Gap?
The median owner-occupied home in Bulls Gap is valued at $178,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,857, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $779 a month.
What is the weather like in Bulls Gap?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Bulls Gap get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bulls Gap since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 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)