The Town FilesSpring City, Tennessee
Town in Rhea County · population 1,949 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,700
- Household income
- $38,975
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 43.8
Spring City is a town of 1,949 people in Rhea County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $166,700, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 92% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 89% of Tennessee towns.
How Spring City 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 Spring City is worth $166,700, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $38,975, which is more affordable than 27% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $781 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Spring City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,700 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $781 | $863 |
| Median household income | $38,975 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.4% | — |
Who lives in Spring City
| People | Spring City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Spring City
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 26.2°F. About 59.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spring City since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 29, 1997.
Severe weather in Rhea County since 1996
Rhea County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, 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 |
| September 27, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4742: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Rhea County
Rhea County had 11,990 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,168 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Spring City itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Spring City
2 public schools with 847 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring City Elementary | PK-5 | 572 | 12.2 |
| Spring City Middle School | 6-8 | 275 | 12.5 |
Towns near Spring City
- Decatur, TN11.6 mi · 1,563 people · home $220,900
- Crab Orchard, TN15.3 mi · 720 people · home $164,700
- Dayton, TN15.5 mi · 7,065 people · home $214,900
- Rockwood, TN16.5 mi · 5,444 people · home $128,700
- Lake Tansi, TN16.8 mi · 4,629 people · home $280,900
- Pikeville, TN19.1 mi · 1,824 people · home $168,500
- Graysville, TN20.3 mi · 1,471 people · home $104,700
- Crossville, TN20.6 mi · 12,071 people · home $246,300
Spring City questions
Is Spring City, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Spring City scores better for retirees than 89% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 92%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Spring City?
The median owner-occupied home in Spring City is valued at $166,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,975, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $781 a month.
What is the weather like in Spring City?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 26.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Spring City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Spring City 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)