The Town FilesCookeville, Tennessee
City in Putnam County · population 34,842 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $305,400
- Household income
- $51,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 29.8
Cookeville is a city of 34,842 people in Putnam County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $305,400, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 95% of Tennessee towns.
How Cookeville 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 Cookeville is worth $305,400, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $51,375, which is more affordable than 4% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $917 a month. 41.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cookeville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $305,400 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $917 | $863 |
| Median household income | $51,375 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Cookeville
| People | Cookeville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 88.2% |
Weather in Cookeville
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 27.0°F. About 60.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 97 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cookeville since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 3, 2020 about 1.7 miles from the town center and killed 19. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 32 deaths and 168 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 14, 2015.
Severe weather in Putnam County since 1996
Putnam County has been included in 19 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 |
| March 8, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4691: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 21, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4594: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Putnam County
Putnam County had 39,664 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,328 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cookeville itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Cookeville
15 public schools with 7,876 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookeville High School | 9-12 | 2,202 | 16.3 |
| Prescott South Middle School | 5-8 | 766 | 13.0 |
| Avery Trace Middle School | 5-8 | 745 | 14.3 |
| Algood Middle School | 5-8 | 730 | 14.6 |
| Prescott South Elementary | PK-4 | 545 | 15.6 |
| Capshaw Elementary | PK-4 | 522 | 15.8 |
| Northeast Elementary | PK-4 | 453 | 15.1 |
| Cane Creek Elementary | PK-4 | 432 | 13.9 |
| Park View Elementary | PK-4 | 422 | 14.6 |
| Jere Whitson Elementary | PK-4 | 317 | 11.7 |
| Sycamore Elementary | PK-4 | 310 | 12.9 |
| Dodson Branch Elementary | PK-8 | 277 | 14.6 |
Towns near Cookeville
- Algood, TN5.2 mi · 3,963 people · home $190,300
- Monterey, TN13.9 mi · 2,746 people · home $165,000
- Sparta, TN14.8 mi · 4,998 people · home $217,000
- Livingston, TN19.6 mi · 3,905 people · home $123,000
- Smithville, TN21.6 mi · 5,004 people · home $194,200
Cookeville questions
Is Cookeville, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cookeville scores better for retirees than 21% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 2%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.8).
How much does a house cost in Cookeville?
The median owner-occupied home in Cookeville is valued at $305,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,375, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $917 a month.
What is the weather like in Cookeville?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 27.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.1 inches of snow.
Does Cookeville get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cookeville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)