The Town FilesGray, Tennessee
Community in Washington County · population 1,293 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,400
- Household income
- $69,947
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 38.1
Gray is a community of 1,293 people in Washington County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $199,400, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks hipper than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Tennessee towns, more upscale than 83% of Tennessee towns.
How Gray 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 Gray is worth $199,400, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $69,947, which is more affordable than 79% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,028 a month. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gray | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,400 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,028 | $863 |
| Median household income | $69,947 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gray
| People | Gray | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in Gray
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 26.3°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.2 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gray since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 27, 2011 about 6.7 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 57 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on October 8, 1960.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Washington County
Washington County had 63,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,766 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Gray itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Gray
3 public schools with 2,432 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone High School | 9-12 | 1,146 | 13.6 |
| Ridgeview Elementary School | PK-8 | 788 | 15.2 |
| Gray Elementary School | PK-8 | 498 | 14.6 |
Towns near Gray
- Spurgeon, TN1.8 mi · 3,978 people · home $219,300
- Oak Grove, TN2.4 mi · 4,482 people · home $260,600
- Colonial Heights, TN5.1 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
- Johnson City, TN7.6 mi · 71,046 people · home $268,200
- Kingsport, TN7.7 mi · 55,442 people · home $234,100
- Sullivan Gardens, TN7.9 mi · 1,271 people · home $194,800
- Fall Branch, TN8.2 mi · 1,248 people · home $213,300
- Jonesborough, TN8.6 mi · 5,860 people · home $299,200
Gray questions
Is Gray, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gray scores better for retirees than 66% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 18%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Gray?
The median owner-occupied home in Gray is valued at $199,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,947, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,028 a month.
What is the weather like in Gray?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 26.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.2 inches of snow.
Does Gray get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gray since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)