The Town FilesSullivan Gardens, Tennessee
Community in Sullivan County · population 1,271 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,800
- Household income
- $46,754
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 44.9
Sullivan Gardens is a community of 1,271 people in Sullivan County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $194,800, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks hipper than 98% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Tennessee towns.
How Sullivan Gardens 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 Sullivan Gardens is worth $194,800, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $46,754, which is more affordable than 32% of Tennessee towns. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sullivan Gardens | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,800 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | — | $863 |
| Median household income | $46,754 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sullivan Gardens
| People | Sullivan Gardens | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Sullivan Gardens
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sullivan Gardens since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 27, 2011 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Sullivan County since 1996
Sullivan County has been included in 12 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sullivan County
Sullivan County had 70,256 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,036 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Sullivan Gardens itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Sullivan Gardens
- Kingsport, TN3.4 mi · 55,442 people · home $234,100
- Fall Branch, TN5.3 mi · 1,248 people · home $213,300
- Colonial Heights, TN5.6 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
- Mount Carmel, TN6.8 mi · 5,473 people · home $179,600
- Church Hill, TN7.2 mi · 6,998 people · home $211,000
- Spurgeon, TN7.8 mi · 3,978 people · home $219,300
- Gray, TN7.9 mi · 1,293 people · home $199,400
- Bloomingdale, TN8.0 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
Sullivan Gardens questions
Is Sullivan Gardens, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sullivan Gardens scores better for retirees than 40% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 65%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Sullivan Gardens?
The median owner-occupied home in Sullivan Gardens is valued at $194,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,754, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sullivan Gardens?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 5.1 inches of snow.
Does Sullivan Gardens get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sullivan Gardens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)