The Town FilesPortland, Tennessee
City in Sumner County · population 13,156 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $282,200
- Household income
- $72,647
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 34.8
Portland is a city of 13,156 people in Sumner County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $282,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How Portland 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 Portland is worth $282,200, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $72,647, which is more affordable than 42% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,141 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portland | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,141 | $863 |
| Median household income | $72,647 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portland
| People | Portland | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.9 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Portland
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 54.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 38 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 Portland since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 27, 1970 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 112 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 4, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 19, 2011.
Severe weather in Sumner County since 1996
Sumner County has been included in 22 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 |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| December 13, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4751: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Sumner County
Sumner County had 62,665 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,304 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Portland itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Portland
8 public schools with 3,805 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland High School | 9-12 | 1,179 | 16.2 |
| Portland Gateview Elementary School | PK-5 | 570 | 14.3 |
| Portland West Middle School | 6-8 | 495 | 13.0 |
| Watt Hardison Elementary | K-5 | 425 | 15.7 |
| Portland East Middle School | 6-8 | 406 | 14.0 |
| J W Wiseman Elementary | PK-5 | 386 | 13.3 |
| Clyde Riggs Elementary | K-5 | 319 | 15.2 |
| Sumner County Middle Technical College High School at Portla | 11-12 | 25 | 8.3 |
Towns near Portland
- Franklin, KY8.5 mi · 10,176 people · home $195,400
- White House, TN12.1 mi · 12,982 people · home $344,800
- Gallatin, TN15.3 mi · 44,431 people · home $372,000
- Westmoreland, TN15.8 mi · 2,718 people · home $241,700
- Shackle Island, TN16.0 mi · 3,331 people · home $540,400
- Millersville, TN17.2 mi · 6,299 people · home $309,900
- Greenbrier, TN19.0 mi · 6,898 people · home $321,900
- Springfield, TN20.5 mi · 18,782 people · home $253,600
Portland questions
Is Portland, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portland scores better for retirees than 6% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 18%. 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Portland?
The median owner-occupied home in Portland is valued at $282,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,647, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,141 a month.
What is the weather like in Portland?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Portland get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 27, 1970. 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)