The Town FilesPuryear, Tennessee
City in Henry County · population 706 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,000
- Household income
- $59,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 43.9
Puryear is a city of 706 people in Henry County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $125,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 91% of Tennessee towns.
How Puryear 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 Puryear is worth $125,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $59,500, which is more affordable than 94% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Puryear | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $800 | $863 |
| Median household income | $59,500 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Puryear
| People | Puryear | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Puryear
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Puryear since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 10, 2021 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Henry County since 1996
Henry County has been included in 21 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 |
| September 4, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4735: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Henry County
Henry County had 11,772 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,711 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Puryear itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Puryear
1 public school with 432 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy And Noble Harrelson School | PK-8 | 432 | 11.7 |
Towns near Puryear
- Paris, TN10.4 mi · 10,316 people · home $163,600
- Murray, KY12.0 mi · 17,307 people · home $195,000
- Gleason, TN21.9 mi · 1,369 people · home $93,200
- Hardin, KY22.4 mi · 580 people · home $96,500
- McKenzie, TN23.2 mi · 5,529 people · home $154,500
- Dresden, TN23.3 mi · 3,019 people · home $126,900
- Wingo, KY26.6 mi · 573 people · home $117,200
- Mayfield, KY26.8 mi · 10,017 people · home $112,500
Puryear questions
Is Puryear, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Puryear scores better for retirees than 75% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 91%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Puryear?
The median owner-occupied home in Puryear is valued at $125,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,500, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Puryear?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 5.1 inches of snow.
Does Puryear get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Puryear since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 10, 2021. 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)