The Town FilesJefferson City, Tennessee
City in Jefferson County · population 8,419 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,200
- Household income
- $60,638
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 33.7
Jefferson City is a city of 8,419 people in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $213,200, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks hipper than 98% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Tennessee towns, more of a college town than 95% of Tennessee towns.
How Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City is worth $213,200, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $60,638, which is more affordable than 59% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $851 | $863 |
| Median household income | $60,638 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson City
| People | Jefferson City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Jefferson City
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson City since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 13, 2013 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 28, 1959.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson 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 |
| September 27, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4742: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 14,061 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,672 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Jefferson City itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Jefferson City
6 public schools with 1,876 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Horeb Elementary School | PK-5 | 575 | 16.0 |
| Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 546 | 14.4 |
| Jefferson Elementary | PK-5 | 463 | 16.0 |
| Talbott Elementary | PK-5 | 292 | 18.3 |
| Jefferson County Adult High School | 11-12 | — | — |
| Dandridge Head Start | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Jefferson City
- Dandridge, TN6.9 mi · 3,344 people · home $259,100
- Morristown, TN11.7 mi · 30,431 people · home $181,100
- Mascot, TN16.1 mi · 2,760 people · home $206,000
- Sevierville, TN16.9 mi · 17,889 people · home $289,600
- Bean Station, TN18.7 mi · 2,967 people · home $164,600
- Newport, TN19.4 mi · 6,868 people · home $133,500
- Seymour, TN22.6 mi · 14,705 people · home $308,100
- Pigeon Forge, TN22.8 mi · 6,343 people · home $291,800
Jefferson City questions
Is Jefferson City, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson City scores better for retirees than 25% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 4%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson City?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson City is valued at $213,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,638, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson City?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 13, 2013. 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)