The Town FilesGrimsley, Tennessee
Community in Fentress County · population 1,219 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,600
- Household income
- $57,212
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 47.1
Grimsley is a community of 1,219 people in Fentress County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $150,600, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better transit than 94% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 93% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 80% of Tennessee towns.
How Grimsley 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 Grimsley is worth $150,600, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $57,212, which is more affordable than 86% of Tennessee towns. 89.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grimsley | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,600 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | — | $863 |
| Median household income | $57,212 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 89.8% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in Grimsley
| People | Grimsley | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Grimsley
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 59.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 90 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grimsley since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 156 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 14, 2015.
Severe weather in Fentress County since 1996
Fentress County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fentress County
Fentress County had 5,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,622 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Grimsley itself the ACS puts it at 11%.
Public schools in Grimsley
1 public school with 595 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Fentress Elementary School | PK-8 | 595 | 18.6 |
Towns near Grimsley
- Clarkrange, TN6.3 mi · 596 people · home $326,800
- Allardt, TN9.7 mi · 555 people · home $157,600
- Jamestown, TN11.2 mi · 1,935 people · home $135,000
- Monterey, TN17.5 mi · 2,746 people · home $165,000
- Sunbright, TN17.8 mi · 519 people · home $120,400
- Livingston, TN19.9 mi · 3,905 people · home $123,000
- Fairfield Glade, TN20.0 mi · 9,152 people · home $356,800
- Byrdstown, TN21.9 mi · 798 people · home $163,400
Grimsley questions
Is Grimsley, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grimsley scores better for retirees than 49% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 93%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Grimsley?
The median owner-occupied home in Grimsley is valued at $150,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,212, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Grimsley?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.8 inches of precipitation a year and 14.4 inches of snow.
Does Grimsley get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grimsley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)