The Town FilesTazewell, Tennessee
Town in Claiborne County · population 2,348 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,800
- Household income
- $41,836
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.8
Tazewell is a town of 2,348 people in Claiborne County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $196,800, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Tennessee towns.
How Tazewell 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 Tazewell is worth $196,800, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $41,836, which is more affordable than 17% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $803 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tazewell | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,800 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $803 | $863 |
| Median household income | $41,836 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Tazewell
| People | Tazewell | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 88.2% |
Weather in Tazewell
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 22.8°F. About 54.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tazewell since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 2, 2012 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on November 10, 2002.
Severe weather in Claiborne County since 1996
Claiborne County has been included in 21 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 |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Claiborne County
Claiborne County had 8,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,889 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Tazewell itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Tazewell
3 public schools with 736 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldiers Memorial Middle School | 5-8 | 372 | 14.9 |
| Springdale Elementary | K-8 | 364 | 14.0 |
| Claiborne Adult High School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Tazewell
- New Tazewell, TN2.7 mi · 2,769 people · home $183,800
- Harrogate, TN8.9 mi · 4,400 people · home $203,900
- Rutledge, TN13.1 mi · 1,321 people · home $154,400
- Middlesborough, KY13.5 mi · 9,405 people · home $99,900
- Rose Hill, VA17.6 mi · 729 people · home —
- Bean Station, TN17.9 mi · 2,967 people · home $164,600
- Maynardville, TN20.0 mi · 2,456 people · home $205,400
- Mooresburg, TN20.0 mi · 877 people · home $181,100
Tazewell questions
Is Tazewell, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tazewell scores better for retirees than 56% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 57%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Tazewell?
The median owner-occupied home in Tazewell is valued at $196,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,836, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $803 a month.
What is the weather like in Tazewell?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 22.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.7 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Tazewell get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tazewell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 2, 2012. 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)