The Town FilesHarriman, Tennessee
City in Roane County · population 5,892 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $153,200
- Household income
- $44,653
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 39.9
Harriman is a city of 5,892 people in Roane County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $153,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 88% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 83% of Tennessee towns.
How Harriman 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 Harriman is worth $153,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $44,653, which is more affordable than 64% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $763 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harriman | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $763 | $863 |
| Median household income | $44,653 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Harriman
| People | Harriman | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Harriman
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 58.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harriman since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 10, 2002 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 21, 2017.
Severe weather in Roane County since 1996
Roane County has been included in 24 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 |
| September 27, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4742: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Roane County
Roane County had 19,050 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,676 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Harriman itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Harriman
6 public schools with 1,554 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowers Elementary | PK-5 | 543 | 13.9 |
| Harriman High School | 9-12 | 360 | 15.7 |
| Harriman Middle School | 6-8 | 290 | 16.1 |
| Midtown Elementary | PK-5 | 262 | 12.5 |
| Roane County Virtual Academy | K-12 | 62 | 4.1 |
| Midtown Educational Center | 6-12 | 37 | 9.3 |
Towns near Harriman
- Kingston, TN5.1 mi · 5,953 people · home $220,000
- Rockwood, TN7.5 mi · 5,444 people · home $128,700
- Oliver Springs, TN15.1 mi · 3,297 people · home $180,900
- Oak Ridge, TN15.4 mi · 31,402 people · home $270,200
- Loudon, TN17.4 mi · 5,991 people · home $244,200
- Lenoir City, TN17.5 mi · 10,117 people · home $252,400
- Fairfield Glade, TN18.1 mi · 9,152 people · home $356,800
- Farragut, TN21.7 mi · 23,506 people · home $583,400
Harriman questions
Is Harriman, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harriman scores better for retirees than 33% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 56%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Harriman?
The median owner-occupied home in Harriman is valued at $153,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,653, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $763 a month.
What is the weather like in Harriman?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Harriman get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harriman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 10, 2002. 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)