The Town FilesMcDonald, Tennessee
Community in Bradley County · population 586 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,100
- Household income
- $95,698
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 51.0
McDonald is a community of 586 people in Bradley County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $214,100, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How McDonald 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 McDonald is worth $214,100, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $95,698, which is more affordable than 93% of Tennessee towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | McDonald | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,100 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | — | $863 |
| Median household income | $95,698 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McDonald
| People | McDonald | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 5.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 1.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in McDonald
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McDonald since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 31 deaths and 596 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Bradley County since 1996
Bradley 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 |
| April 24, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4541: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Bradley County
Bradley County had 40,665 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,379 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in McDonald itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near McDonald
- South Cleveland, TN4.3 mi · 7,673 people · home $232,600
- Ooltewah, TN4.7 mi · 684 people · home $240,900
- Collegedale, TN5.2 mi · 11,109 people · home $365,100
- Apison, TN7.3 mi · 4,428 people · home $459,000
- Wildwood Lake, TN7.9 mi · 3,286 people · home $231,700
- East Cleveland, TN8.0 mi · 1,725 people · home $124,100
- Cleveland, TN8.1 mi · 47,356 people · home $272,200
- Harrison, TN9.2 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
McDonald questions
Is McDonald, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McDonald scores better for retirees than 73% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 65%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in McDonald?
The median owner-occupied home in McDonald is valued at $214,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,698, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in McDonald?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does McDonald get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McDonald since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)