The Town FilesRutledge, Tennessee
Town in Grainger County · population 1,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,400
- Household income
- $50,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 46.7
Rutledge is a town of 1,321 people in Grainger County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $154,400, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks quieter than 87% of Tennessee towns.
How Rutledge 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 Rutledge is worth $154,400, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $50,045, which is more affordable than 73% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $626 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rutledge | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,400 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $626 | $863 |
| Median household income | $50,045 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rutledge
| People | Rutledge | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.6% | 88.2% |
Weather in Rutledge
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.5 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rutledge since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on February 6, 2025 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 28, 1959.
Severe weather in Grainger County since 1996
Grainger County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grainger County
Grainger County had 4,301 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,454 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Rutledge itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Rutledge
8 public schools with 2,565 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger High School | 9-12 | 797 | 15.0 |
| Washburn School | PK-12 | 483 | 13.1 |
| Joppa Elementary | PK-6 | 415 | 13.8 |
| Rutledge Middle School | 7-8 | 346 | 13.3 |
| Rutledge Elementary School | 2-6 | 334 | 13.9 |
| Rutledge Primary | PK-1 | 176 | 11.0 |
| Grainger Academy | 9-12 | 11 | 11.0 |
| Grainger Co Adult High | 9-12 | 3 | — |
Towns near Rutledge
- Jefferson City, TN11.0 mi · 8,419 people · home $213,200
- New Tazewell, TN12.0 mi · 2,769 people · home $183,800
- New Market, TN12.4 mi · 1,349 people · home $180,400
- Blaine, TN12.8 mi · 2,084 people · home $297,400
- Luttrell, TN12.8 mi · 1,017 people · home $154,000
- Tazewell, TN13.1 mi · 2,348 people · home $196,800
- Morristown, TN13.8 mi · 30,431 people · home $181,100
- Bean Station, TN14.5 mi · 2,967 people · home $164,600
Rutledge questions
Is Rutledge, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rutledge scores better for retirees than 46% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 87%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Rutledge?
The median owner-occupied home in Rutledge is valued at $154,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,045, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $626 a month.
What is the weather like in Rutledge?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 7.5 inches of snow.
Does Rutledge get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rutledge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on February 6, 2025. 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)