The Town FilesMountain City, Tennessee
Town in Johnson County · population 2,415 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,300
- Household income
- $38,818
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 52.2
Mountain City is a town of 2,415 people in Johnson County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $216,300, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for retirees than 83% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 78% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How Mountain 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 Mountain City is worth $216,300, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $38,818, which is more affordable than 7% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $516 a month. 56.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mountain City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $516 | $863 |
| Median household income | $38,818 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Mountain City
| People | Mountain City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Mountain City
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain City since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 27, 2011 about 2.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 12, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 10, 1957.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 20 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, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 4,274 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,592 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Mountain City itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Mountain City
5 public schools with 1,901 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Co High School | 9-12 | 599 | 13.6 |
| Mountain City Elementary | PK-6 | 430 | 14.8 |
| Roan Creek Elementary | PK-6 | 341 | 12.2 |
| Johnson Co Middle School | 7-8 | 307 | 12.3 |
| Doe Elementary | PK-6 | 224 | 11.8 |
Towns near Mountain City
- Damascus, VA11.3 mi · 788 people · home $173,500
- Cove Creek, NC12.6 mi · 1,068 people · home $295,700
- Beech Mountain, NC18.5 mi · 675 people · home $443,500
- West Jefferson, NC18.5 mi · 1,279 people · home $232,400
- Abingdon, VA18.8 mi · 8,376 people · home $228,000
- Jefferson, NC19.0 mi · 1,622 people · home $236,000
- Boone, NC19.3 mi · 19,092 people · home $411,100
- Hunter, TN19.8 mi · 1,803 people · home $169,500
Mountain City questions
Is Mountain City, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mountain City scores better for retirees than 83% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 78%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Mountain City?
The median owner-occupied home in Mountain City is valued at $216,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,818, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $516 a month.
What is the weather like in Mountain City?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 12.0 inches of snow.
Does Mountain City get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)