The Town FilesCarthage, Tennessee
Town in Smith County · population 2,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,300
- Household income
- $67,006
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.0
Carthage is a town of 2,291 people in Smith County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $257,300, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 97% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 90% of Tennessee towns.
How Carthage 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 Carthage is worth $257,300, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $67,006, which is more affordable than 46% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carthage | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $934 | $863 |
| Median household income | $67,006 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carthage
| People | Carthage | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Carthage
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 27.0°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 3, 2020 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 65 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 19, 1997.
Severe weather in Smith County since 1996
Smith County has been included in 22 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 |
| 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 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Smith County
Smith County had 5,040 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,195 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Carthage itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Carthage
5 public schools with 1,732 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County High School | 9-12 | 493 | 11.5 |
| Carthage Elementary | PK-4 | 424 | 15.7 |
| Smith County Middle School | 5-8 | 313 | 16.5 |
| Defeated Elementary | PK-8 | 260 | 13.7 |
| Union Heights Elementary | PK-8 | 242 | 14.2 |
Towns near Carthage
- South Carthage, TN1.4 mi · 1,490 people · home $200,300
- Gordonsville, TN4.9 mi · 1,363 people · home $251,400
- Alexandria, TN13.4 mi · 981 people · home $220,100
- Hartsville/Trousdale County, TN15.2 mi · 11,615 people · home $337,600
- Watertown, TN15.4 mi · 1,553 people · home $250,000
- Gainesboro, TN18.0 mi · 920 people · home $170,600
- Baxter, TN18.6 mi · 1,578 people · home $219,000
- Lafayette, TN19.1 mi · 5,584 people · home $213,900
Carthage questions
Is Carthage, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carthage scores better for retirees than 85% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 69%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Carthage?
The median owner-occupied home in Carthage is valued at $257,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,006, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Carthage?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 27.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Carthage get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carthage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 3, 2020. 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)