The Town FilesJamestown, Tennessee
City in Fentress County · population 1,935 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,000
- Household income
- $30,685
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 41.2
Jamestown is a city of 1,935 people in Fentress County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $135,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 90% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 81% of Tennessee towns.
How Jamestown 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 Jamestown is worth $135,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $30,685, which is more affordable than 23% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $377 a month. 41.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamestown | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $377 | $863 |
| Median household income | $30,685 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Jamestown
| People | Jamestown | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.2% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.0% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Jamestown
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 59.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.9 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 161 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 26, 2012.
Severe weather in Fentress County since 1996
Fentress County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fentress County
Fentress County had 5,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,622 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Jamestown itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Jamestown
3 public schools with 1,510 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Haven Elementary | PK-8 | 577 | 18.6 |
| Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute | 9-12 | 477 | 13.6 |
| York Elementary | PK-8 | 456 | 14.3 |
Towns near Jamestown
- Allardt, TN4.6 mi · 555 people · home $157,600
- Grimsley, TN11.2 mi · 1,219 people · home $150,600
- Byrdstown, TN14.8 mi · 798 people · home $163,400
- Clarkrange, TN17.4 mi · 596 people · home $326,800
- Sunbright, TN19.3 mi · 519 people · home $120,400
- Albany, KY21.1 mi · 1,760 people · home $111,100
- Helenwood, TN21.2 mi · 635 people · home —
- Livingston, TN21.9 mi · 3,905 people · home $123,000
Jamestown questions
Is Jamestown, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamestown scores better for retirees than 81% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 77%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Jamestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamestown is valued at $135,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,685, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $377 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamestown?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.2 inches of precipitation a year and 18.9 inches of snow.
Does Jamestown get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)