The Town FilesTellico Plains, Tennessee
Town in Monroe County · population 762 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,500
- Household income
- $45,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 34.7
Tellico Plains is a town of 762 people in Monroe County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $187,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 80% of Tennessee towns.
How Tellico Plains 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 Tellico Plains is worth $187,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $45,625, which is more affordable than 37% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $639 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tellico Plains | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $639 | $863 |
| Median household income | $45,625 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.9% | — |
Who lives in Tellico Plains
| People | Tellico Plains | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 34.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.8% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Tellico Plains
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 87 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tellico Plains since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 2, 2012 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 17, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2008.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 18 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| April 24, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4541: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 15,485 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,323 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Tellico Plains itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Tellico Plains
5 public schools with 1,334 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tellico Plains High School | 9-12 | 442 | 17.7 |
| Tellico Plains Elementary | PK-4 | 334 | 17.6 |
| Tellico Plains Junior High School | 5-8 | 263 | 18.8 |
| Rural Vale Elementary | K-8 | 241 | 24.1 |
| Coker Creek Elementary | K-8 | 54 | 7.7 |
Towns near Tellico Plains
- Englewood, TN11.4 mi · 1,483 people · home $140,000
- Madisonville, TN11.4 mi · 5,132 people · home $234,400
- Etowah, TN13.1 mi · 3,603 people · home $190,800
- Kahite, TN14.4 mi · 834 people · home $667,900
- Vonore, TN16.3 mi · 1,574 people · home $290,900
- Delano, TN16.7 mi · 777 people · home $163,500
- Niota, TN17.6 mi · 772 people · home $156,300
- Athens, TN18.3 mi · 14,084 people · home $225,000
Tellico Plains questions
Is Tellico Plains, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tellico Plains scores better for retirees than 30% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 80%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Tellico Plains?
The median owner-occupied home in Tellico Plains is valued at $187,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,625, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $639 a month.
What is the weather like in Tellico Plains?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.8 inches of snow.
Does Tellico Plains get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tellico Plains 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)