The Town FilesHenderson, Tennessee
City in Chester County · population 6,308 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,900
- Household income
- $45,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 28.1
Henderson is a city of 6,308 people in Chester County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $147,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Tennessee towns, better for cycling than 99% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 93% of Tennessee towns.
How Henderson 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 Henderson is worth $147,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $45,938, which is more affordable than 71% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $781 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Henderson | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $781 | $863 |
| Median household income | $45,938 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Henderson
| People | Henderson | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.1 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Henderson
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 26.7°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Henderson since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 22, 1952 about 0.7 miles from the town center and killed 23. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 37 deaths and 169 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 24, 2010.
Severe weather in Chester County since 1996
Chester County has been included in 16 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 |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3473: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Chester County
Chester County had 3,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,062 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Henderson itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Henderson
5 public schools with 2,649 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County High School | 9-12 | 809 | 15.9 |
| Chester County Junior High School | 6-8 | 604 | 18.9 |
| East Chester Elementary School | PK-3 | 505 | 14.4 |
| Chester County Middle School | 4-5 | 452 | 17.4 |
| W Chester Elementary School | K-3 | 279 | 14.7 |
Towns near Henderson
- Jackson, TN18.0 mi · 68,205 people · home $217,800
- Selmer, TN19.1 mi · 4,446 people · home $155,900
- Lexington, TN21.0 mi · 7,956 people · home $176,000
- Bolivar, TN23.5 mi · 5,205 people · home $150,200
- Medina, TN26.9 mi · 5,126 people · home $287,200
- Savannah, TN28.3 mi · 7,213 people · home $160,200
- Whiteville, TN29.1 mi · 2,606 people · home $124,400
- Humboldt, TN30.0 mi · 7,874 people · home $102,300
Henderson questions
Is Henderson, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Henderson scores better for retirees than 26% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 1%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.1).
How much does a house cost in Henderson?
The median owner-occupied home in Henderson is valued at $147,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,938, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $781 a month.
What is the weather like in Henderson?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 26.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does Henderson get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Henderson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 22, 1952. 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)