The Town FilesHarrogate, Tennessee
City in Claiborne County · population 4,400 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,900
- Household income
- $65,586
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.9
Harrogate is a city of 4,400 people in Claiborne County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $203,900, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 97% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 94% of Tennessee towns.
How Harrogate 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 Harrogate is worth $203,900, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $65,586, which is more affordable than 73% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,154 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrogate | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,154 | $863 |
| Median household income | $65,586 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Harrogate
| People | Harrogate | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Harrogate
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 22.8°F. About 54.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrogate since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 9, 1988 about 1.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 22, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 1, 1990.
Severe weather in Claiborne County since 1996
Claiborne County has been included in 21 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Claiborne County
Claiborne County had 8,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,889 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Harrogate itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Harrogate
3 public schools with 749 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen Myers Primary | PK-4 | 356 | 17.8 |
| H. Y. Livesay Middle School | 5-8 | 261 | 17.4 |
| Forge Ridge School | PK-8 | 132 | 12.0 |
Towns near Harrogate
- Middlesborough, KY5.0 mi · 9,405 people · home $99,900
- New Tazewell, TN9.7 mi · 2,769 people · home $183,800
- Barbourville, KY24.0 mi · 3,222 people · home $182,400
- Bean Station, TN25.9 mi · 2,967 people · home $164,600
Harrogate questions
Is Harrogate, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrogate scores better for retirees than 97% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 27%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Harrogate?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrogate is valued at $203,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,586, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,154 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrogate?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 22.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.7 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Harrogate get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrogate since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 9, 1988. 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)