The Town FilesHornbeak, Tennessee
Town in Obion County · population 511 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,300
- Household income
- $63,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.9
Hornbeak is a town of 511 people in Obion County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $94,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 98% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 77% of Tennessee towns.
How Hornbeak 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 Hornbeak is worth $94,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $63,036, which is more affordable than 99% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $795 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hornbeak | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $795 | $863 |
| Median household income | $63,036 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Hornbeak
| People | Hornbeak | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.2% |
Weather in Hornbeak
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hornbeak since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 5.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 7, 2014.
Severe weather in Obion County since 1996
Obion County has been included in 22 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 |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Obion County
Obion County had 12,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,932 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Hornbeak itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Hornbeak
1 public school with 220 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Oak Elementary | PK-8 | 220 | 9.2 |
Towns near Hornbeak
- Troy, TN7.8 mi · 1,423 people · home $114,800
- Obion, TN8.5 mi · 991 people · home $97,900
- Tiptonville, TN10.3 mi · 3,976 people · home $106,500
- Trimble, TN11.1 mi · 547 people · home $80,900
- Ridgely, TN11.3 mi · 1,690 people · home $83,300
- Newbern, TN15.2 mi · 3,349 people · home $99,700
- Union City, TN15.3 mi · 11,170 people · home $146,000
- Hickman, KY17.2 mi · 2,365 people · home $70,800
Hornbeak questions
Is Hornbeak, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hornbeak scores better for retirees than 77% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 98%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Hornbeak?
The median owner-occupied home in Hornbeak is valued at $94,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,036, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $795 a month.
What is the weather like in Hornbeak?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.2 inches of precipitation a year and 5.4 inches of snow.
Does Hornbeak get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hornbeak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 10, 2021. 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)