The Town FilesRarity Bay, Tennessee
Community in Monroe County · population 885 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $706,000
- Household income
- $84,861
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 73.8
Rarity Bay is a community of 885 people in Monroe County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $706,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for retirees than 87% of Tennessee towns, more upscale than 78% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How Rarity Bay 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 Rarity Bay is worth $706,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 8.3 times the median household income of $84,861, which is more affordable than 0% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,598 a month. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rarity Bay | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $706,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,598 | $863 |
| Median household income | $84,861 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.9% | — |
Who lives in Rarity Bay
| People | Rarity Bay | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 73.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 84.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 0.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 27.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | — min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in Rarity Bay
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 28.0°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rarity Bay since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 23, 2011 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 29, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| April 24, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4541: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 15,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,323 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Rarity Bay itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Rarity Bay
- Vonore, TN2.8 mi · 1,574 people · home $290,900
- Tellico Village, TN4.4 mi · 7,311 people · home $517,200
- Kahite, TN4.7 mi · 834 people · home $667,900
- Greenback, TN4.9 mi · 1,102 people · home $286,100
- Philadelphia, TN8.8 mi · 607 people · home $105,600
- Loudon, TN9.3 mi · 5,991 people · home $244,200
- Madisonville, TN9.9 mi · 5,132 people · home $234,400
- Friendsville, TN10.8 mi · 896 people · home $217,800
Rarity Bay questions
Is Rarity Bay, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rarity Bay scores better for retirees than 87% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 46%. 84.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 73.8).
How much does a house cost in Rarity Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Rarity Bay is valued at $706,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,861, so homes cost about 8.3 times income. Median rent is $1,598 a month.
What is the weather like in Rarity Bay?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 28.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Rarity Bay get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rarity Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 23, 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)