The Town FilesNewbern, Tennessee
Town in Dyer County · population 3,349 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,700
- Household income
- $58,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 34.0
Newbern is a town of 3,349 people in Dyer County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $99,700, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 84% of Tennessee towns.
How Newbern 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 Newbern is worth $99,700, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $58,455, which is more affordable than 98% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newbern | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,700 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $825 | $863 |
| Median household income | $58,455 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Newbern
| People | Newbern | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.9% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 88.2% |
Weather in Newbern
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.2°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newbern since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 1.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 35 deaths and 145 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 5, 2003.
Severe weather in Dyer County since 1996
Dyer County has been included in 24 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 |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 14, 2022 | Tornado | DR-4637: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Dyer County
Dyer County had 16,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,348 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Newbern itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Newbern
3 public schools with 2,011 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyer County High School | 9-12 | 1,026 | 14.5 |
| Newbern Elementary School | PK-5 | 562 | 17.0 |
| Northview Middle School | 6-8 | 423 | 16.3 |
Towns near Newbern
- Dyersburg, TN7.7 mi · 16,164 people · home $168,300
- Trenton, TN20.7 mi · 4,240 people · home $126,000
- Tiptonville, TN21.2 mi · 3,976 people · home $106,500
- Caruthersville, MO22.5 mi · 5,562 people · home $107,700
- Union City, TN24.8 mi · 11,170 people · home $146,000
- Martin, TN27.9 mi · 10,825 people · home $198,300
- Humboldt, TN28.7 mi · 7,874 people · home $102,300
- Ripley, TN29.7 mi · 7,800 people · home $154,900
Newbern questions
Is Newbern, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newbern scores better for retirees than 39% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 34%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Newbern?
The median owner-occupied home in Newbern is valued at $99,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,455, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Newbern?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.8 inches of snow.
Does Newbern get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newbern since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. 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)