The Town FilesRidgely, Tennessee
Town in Lake County · population 1,690 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,300
- Household income
- $24,390
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 35.8
Ridgely is a town of 1,690 people in Lake County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $83,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 79% of Tennessee towns.
How Ridgely 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 Ridgely is worth $83,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $24,390, which is more affordable than 64% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $560 a month. 41.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ridgely | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $560 | $863 |
| Median household income | $24,390 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 41.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ridgely
| People | Ridgely | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 43.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in Ridgely
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.6°F. About 55.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.6 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgely since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 70 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| January 14, 2022 | Tornado | DR-4637: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 1,452 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,138 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Ridgely itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Ridgely
1 public school with 335 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lara Kendall Elementary | 3-8 | 335 | 9.9 |
Towns near Ridgely
- Tiptonville, TN7.8 mi · 3,976 people · home $106,500
- Hornbeak, TN11.3 mi · 511 people · home $94,300
- Caruthersville, MO11.8 mi · 5,562 people · home $107,700
- Hayti, MO15.0 mi · 2,493 people · home $70,400
- Newbern, TN15.4 mi · 3,349 people · home $99,700
- Finley, TN15.7 mi · 774 people · home $162,500
- Dyersburg, TN16.0 mi · 16,164 people · home $168,300
- Hayti Heights, MO16.2 mi · 515 people · home $63,900
Ridgely questions
Is Ridgely, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ridgely scores better for retirees than 62% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 27%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Ridgely?
The median owner-occupied home in Ridgely is valued at $83,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $24,390, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $560 a month.
What is the weather like in Ridgely?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 29.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.3 inches of precipitation a year and 6.6 inches of snow.
Does Ridgely get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgely since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 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)