The Town FilesLakesite, Tennessee
City in Hamilton County · population 1,856 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $332,200
- Household income
- $96,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 38.6
Lakesite is a city of 1,856 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $332,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for families than 96% of Tennessee towns, more of a college town than 93% of Tennessee towns, more upscale than 90% of Tennessee towns.
How Lakesite 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 Lakesite is worth $332,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $96,250, which is more affordable than 59% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $863 a month. 84.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakesite | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $332,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $863 | $863 |
| Median household income | $96,250 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 84.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Lakesite
| People | Lakesite | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Lakesite
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 28.4°F. About 63.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakesite since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 2, 2012 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 2, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 15, 2011.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 25 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 |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 221,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,004 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Lakesite itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Lakesite
2 public schools with 1,034 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loftis Middle School | 6-8 | 586 | 16.3 |
| McConnell Elementary School | K-5 | 448 | 17.2 |
Towns near Lakesite
- Middle Valley, TN3.3 mi · 11,695 people · home $319,400
- Soddy-Daisy, TN4.4 mi · 13,070 people · home $256,600
- Harrison, TN5.4 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
- Falling Water, TN6.7 mi · 1,873 people · home $420,600
- Mowbray Mountain, TN6.8 mi · 1,705 people · home $390,400
- Flat Top Mountain, TN9.5 mi · 561 people · home $593,100
- Walden, TN9.9 mi · 1,981 people · home $679,900
- Ooltewah, TN10.3 mi · 684 people · home $240,900
Lakesite questions
Is Lakesite, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakesite scores better for retirees than 66% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 12%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Lakesite?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakesite is valued at $332,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,250, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $863 a month.
What is the weather like in Lakesite?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 28.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.1 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Lakesite get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakesite since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 2, 2012. 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)