The Town FilesJellico, Tennessee
City in Campbell County · population 2,154 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,300
- Household income
- $41,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.4
Jellico is a city of 2,154 people in Campbell County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $127,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 94% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 82% of Tennessee towns.
How Jellico 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 Jellico is worth $127,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $41,467, which is more affordable than 73% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $440 a month. 54.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jellico | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $440 | $863 |
| Median household income | $41,467 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Jellico
| People | Jellico | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 10.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in Jellico
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 54.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 107 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jellico since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1967 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 12, 1967.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 15, 2007.
Severe weather in Campbell County since 1996
Campbell County has been included in 25 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 |
| 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 Campbell County
Campbell County had 9,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,011 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Jellico itself the ACS puts it at 13.1%.
Public schools in Jellico
5 public schools with 840 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jellico High School | 9-12 | 297 | 12.9 |
| Jellico Elementary | PK-8 | 271 | 9.7 |
| Wynn Habersham Elementary | PK-8 | 144 | 13.1 |
| White Oak Elementary | PK-8 | 128 | 10.7 |
| Jellico Learning Academy | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Jellico
- Williamsburg, KY11.9 mi · 5,326 people · home $113,300
- Fincastle, TN12.2 mi · 1,611 people · home $215,300
- La Follette, TN13.8 mi · 7,430 people · home $138,900
- Jacksboro, TN16.9 mi · 2,306 people · home $236,500
- Winfield, TN18.3 mi · 947 people · home $100,700
- Caryville, TN18.5 mi · 2,212 people · home $200,500
- Pine Knot, KY19.1 mi · 1,380 people · home —
- Stearns, KY21.7 mi · 1,365 people · home $160,700
Jellico questions
Is Jellico, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jellico scores better for retirees than 94% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 62%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Jellico?
The median owner-occupied home in Jellico is valued at $127,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,467, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $440 a month.
What is the weather like in Jellico?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year and 10.1 inches of snow.
Does Jellico get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jellico since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 1967. 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)