The Town FilesCleveland, Tennessee
City in Bradley County · population 47,356 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $272,200
- Household income
- $58,559
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 36.4
Cleveland is a city of 47,356 people in Bradley County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $272,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for cycling than 94% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 92% of Tennessee towns.
How Cleveland 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 Cleveland is worth $272,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $58,559, which is more affordable than 18% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,034 a month. 48.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cleveland | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $272,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,034 | $863 |
| Median household income | $58,559 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.0% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Cleveland
| People | Cleveland | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.2% |
Weather in Cleveland
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
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 472 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1985.
Severe weather in Bradley County since 1996
Bradley 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 |
| April 24, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4541: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Bradley County
Bradley County had 40,665 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,379 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cleveland itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Cleveland
25 public schools with 15,702 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland High | 9-12 | 1,799 | 16.4 |
| Bradley Central High School | 9-12 | 1,662 | 15.4 |
| Walker Valley High School | 9-12 | 1,501 | 15.8 |
| Cleveland Middle | 6-8 | 1,302 | 14.6 |
| Lake Forest Middle School | 6-8 | 1,174 | 15.1 |
| Ocoee Middle School | 6-8 | 1,045 | 15.4 |
| Waterville Community Elementary School | PK-5 | 672 | 16.4 |
| Blythe-Bower Elementary | PK-5 | 668 | 13.9 |
| North Lee Elementary School | PK-5 | 509 | 16.4 |
| Black Fox Elementary School | PK-5 | 506 | 15.8 |
| Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School | PK-5 | 473 | 13.9 |
| Hopewell Elementary School | PK-5 | 463 | 14.9 |
Towns near Cleveland
- South Cleveland, TN5.4 mi · 7,673 people · home $232,600
- Wildwood Lake, TN6.5 mi · 3,286 people · home $231,700
- Collegedale, TN13.3 mi · 11,109 people · home $365,100
- Apison, TN14.4 mi · 4,428 people · home $459,000
- Harrison, TN16.0 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
- Soddy-Daisy, TN17.9 mi · 13,070 people · home $256,600
- Middle Valley, TN18.4 mi · 11,695 people · home $319,400
- Sale Creek, TN18.6 mi · 3,021 people · home $299,700
Cleveland questions
Is Cleveland, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cleveland scores better for retirees than 16% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 2%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Cleveland?
The median owner-occupied home in Cleveland is valued at $272,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,559, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,034 a month.
What is the weather like in Cleveland?
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 Cleveland get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland 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)