The Town FilesCentral, Tennessee
Community in Carter County · population 2,114 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,800
- Household income
- $37,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 55.8
Central is a community of 2,114 people in Carter County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $151,800, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks hipper than 99% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 90% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 88% of Tennessee towns.
How Central 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 Central is worth $151,800, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $37,444, which is more affordable than 37% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $952 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,800 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $952 | $863 |
| Median household income | $37,444 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Central
| People | Central | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in Central
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 10, 1980 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 8, 1960.
Severe weather in Carter County since 1996
Carter County has been included in 18 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Carter County
Carter County had 12,025 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,576 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Central itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Towns near Central
- Pine Crest, TN2.9 mi · 2,439 people · home $196,600
- Elizabethton, TN3.3 mi · 14,546 people · home $172,900
- Johnson City, TN4.7 mi · 71,046 people · home $268,200
- Biltmore, TN4.9 mi · 1,837 people · home $125,300
- Valley Forge, TN6.0 mi · 1,926 people · home $158,100
- Hampton, TN7.9 mi · 2,030 people · home $98,200
- Unicoi, TN7.9 mi · 3,833 people · home $244,300
- Bluff City, TN8.7 mi · 1,822 people · home $157,400
Central questions
Is Central, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central scores better for retirees than 67% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 87%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.8).
How much does a house cost in Central?
The median owner-occupied home in Central is valued at $151,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,444, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $952 a month.
What is the weather like in Central?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.0 inches of snow.
Does Central get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 10, 1980. 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)