The Town FilesClifton, Tennessee
City in Wayne County · population 2,651 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,100
- Household income
- $43,571
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 44.1
Clifton is a city of 2,651 people in Wayne County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $122,100, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 84% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 72% of Tennessee towns.
How Clifton 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 Clifton is worth $122,100, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $43,571, which is more affordable than 81% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $681 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clifton | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,100 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $681 | $863 |
| Median household income | $43,571 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.9% | — |
Who lives in Clifton
| People | Clifton | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.5% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Clifton
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 26.7°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clifton since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 5, 2008 about 2.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on February 5, 2008.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 27 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 4,052 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,559 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Clifton itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Clifton
1 public school with 304 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Hughes School | PK-12 | 304 | 9.2 |
Towns near Clifton
- Savannah, TN17.5 mi · 7,213 people · home $160,200
- Hohenwald, TN27.4 mi · 3,668 people · home $125,600
- Lexington, TN28.3 mi · 7,956 people · home $176,000
Clifton questions
Is Clifton, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clifton scores better for retirees than 72% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 84%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Clifton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clifton is valued at $122,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,571, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $681 a month.
What is the weather like in Clifton?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 26.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Clifton get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clifton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 5, 2008. 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)