The Town FilesHunter, Tennessee
Community in Carter County · population 1,803 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,500
- Household income
- $51,815
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 39.9
Hunter is a community of 1,803 people in Carter County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $169,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 93% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 85% of Tennessee towns.
How Hunter 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 Hunter is worth $169,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $51,815, which is more affordable than 68% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $756 a month. 88.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hunter | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $756 | $863 |
| Median household income | $51,815 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 88.8% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hunter
| People | Hunter | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Hunter
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hunter since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Carter County since 1996
Carter County has been included in 18 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 |
| September 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Carter County
Carter County had 12,025 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,576 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Hunter itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Towns near Hunter
- Biltmore, TN4.5 mi · 1,837 people · home $125,300
- Elizabethton, TN6.5 mi · 14,546 people · home $172,900
- Valley Forge, TN7.2 mi · 1,926 people · home $158,100
- Bluff City, TN8.1 mi · 1,822 people · home $157,400
- Hampton, TN8.7 mi · 2,030 people · home $98,200
- Central, TN9.4 mi · 2,114 people · home $151,800
- Bristol, TN11.4 mi · 27,147 people · home $194,500
- Pine Crest, TN11.6 mi · 2,439 people · home $196,600
Hunter questions
Is Hunter, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hunter scores better for retirees than 21% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 28%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Hunter?
The median owner-occupied home in Hunter is valued at $169,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,815, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $756 a month.
What is the weather like in Hunter?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 6.0 inches of snow.
Does Hunter get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hunter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 27, 2011. 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)