The Town FilesSmithville, Tennessee
City in DeKalb County · population 5,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,200
- Household income
- $33,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.2
Smithville is a city of 5,004 people in DeKalb County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $194,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Tennessee towns.
How Smithville 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 Smithville is worth $194,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $33,192, which is more affordable than 4% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $740 | $863 |
| Median household income | $33,192 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Smithville
| People | Smithville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.4% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Smithville
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithville since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1974 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 20 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 |
| April 21, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4594: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 5,388 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,873 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Smithville itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Smithville
5 public schools with 2,477 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Kalb County High School | 9-12 | 783 | 14.5 |
| Northside Elementary | 2-5 | 582 | 12.7 |
| DeKalb Middle School | 6-8 | 558 | 15.1 |
| Smithville Elementary | PK-2 | 553 | 12.6 |
| De Kalb County Adult High School | 10-12 | 1 | — |
Towns near Smithville
- Woodbury, TN16.8 mi · 2,703 people · home $216,400
- McMinnville, TN18.9 mi · 13,788 people · home $182,200
- Sparta, TN19.6 mi · 4,998 people · home $217,000
- Cookeville, TN21.6 mi · 34,842 people · home $305,400
- Algood, TN26.8 mi · 3,963 people · home $190,300
Smithville questions
Is Smithville, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithville scores better for retirees than 47% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 25%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Smithville?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithville is valued at $194,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,192, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Smithville?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Smithville get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 3, 1974. 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)