The Town FilesSouth Pittsburg, Tennessee
City in Marion County · population 3,106 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,100
- Household income
- $57,865
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 49.5
South Pittsburg is a city of 3,106 people in Marion County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $187,100, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 92% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 79% of Tennessee towns.
How South Pittsburg 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 South Pittsburg is worth $187,100, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $57,865, which is more affordable than 71% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $643 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Pittsburg | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,100 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $643 | $863 |
| Median household income | $57,865 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in South Pittsburg
| People | South Pittsburg | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in South Pittsburg
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 60.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Pittsburg since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 29, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 25 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 8,355 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,930 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in South Pittsburg itself the ACS puts it at 11.9%.
Public schools in South Pittsburg
3 public schools with 1,153 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Pittsburg Elementary | PK-6 | 531 | 16.1 |
| South Pittsburg High School | 7-12 | 420 | 15.0 |
| Richard Hardy Memorial School | PK-12 | 202 | 14.4 |
Towns near South Pittsburg
- Jasper, TN6.8 mi · 3,612 people · home $209,000
- Sewanee, TN17.3 mi · 2,535 people · home $465,500
- Chattanooga Valley, GA22.1 mi · 3,962 people · home $205,300
- Signal Mountain, TN23.2 mi · 8,852 people · home $544,300
- Rossville, GA24.4 mi · 3,980 people · home $133,000
- Fairview, GA24.7 mi · 6,409 people · home $183,600
- Red Bank, TN24.9 mi · 11,899 people · home $269,400
- Winchester, TN25.3 mi · 9,375 people · home $216,900
South Pittsburg questions
Is South Pittsburg, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Pittsburg scores better for retirees than 92% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 76%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in South Pittsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in South Pittsburg is valued at $187,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,865, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $643 a month.
What is the weather like in South Pittsburg?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does South Pittsburg get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Pittsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 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)