The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Tennessee

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 103 towns of 500–10,000 people in Tennessee. #1 is Unicoi, TN.

1. 25Mascot, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 82% of Tennessee towns

   Mascot is a community of 2,760 people in Knox County, Tennessee. It also ranks more of a college town than 88% of Tennessee towns and better for first-time buyers than 83% of Tennessee towns.

   2,760 people · Knox County · median home $206,000 · income $60,250 · Jan low 27°F · 4 in snow

   Full Mascot, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Church Hill, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 82% of Tennessee towns

   Church Hill is a city of 6,998 people in Hawkins County, Tennessee. It also ranks easier by car than 85% of Tennessee towns and better for cycling than 83% of Tennessee towns.

   6,998 people · Hawkins County · median home $211,000 · income $65,526 · Jan low 27°F · 7 in snow

   Full Church Hill, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Harrison, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 82% of Tennessee towns

   Harrison is a community of 7,902 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for young professionals than 82% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 82% of Tennessee towns.

   7,902 people · Hamilton County · median home $307,400 · income $89,395 · Jan low 32°F · 4 in snow

   Full Harrison, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Mount Carmel, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 83% of Tennessee towns

   Mount Carmel is a town of 5,473 people in Hawkins County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for cycling than 93% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 75% of Tennessee towns.

   5,473 people · Hawkins County · median home $179,600 · income $68,866 · Jan low 27°F · 5 in snow

   Full Mount Carmel, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Kingston Springs, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 84% of Tennessee towns

   Kingston Springs is a town of 2,824 people in Cheatham County, Tennessee. It also ranks better transit than 99% of Tennessee towns and better for families than 89% of Tennessee towns.

   2,824 people · Cheatham County · median home $426,500 · income $103,250 · Jan low 27°F · 1 in snow

   Full Kingston Springs, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Belle Meade, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 84% of Tennessee towns

   Belle Meade is a city of 2,901 people in Davidson County, Tennessee. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 100% of Tennessee towns.

   2,901 people · Davidson County · median home $2,000,001 · income $250,001 · Jan low 28°F · 3 in snow

   Full Belle Meade, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Oak Hill, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 84% of Tennessee towns

   Oak Hill is a city of 4,891 people in Davidson County, Tennessee. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of Tennessee towns and better for families than 95% of Tennessee towns.

   4,891 people · Davidson County · median home $1,199,600 · income $215,530 · Jan low 26°F · 5 in snow

   Full Oak Hill, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Rogersville, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 86% of Tennessee towns

   Rogersville is a town of 4,671 people in Hawkins County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Tennessee towns and more vibrant than 95% of Tennessee towns.

   4,671 people · Hawkins County · median home $192,800 · income $47,500 · Jan low 26°F · 6 in snow

   Full Rogersville, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Waverly, Tennessee

   Better for retirees than 88% of Tennessee towns

   Waverly is a city of 4,297 people in Humphreys County, Tennessee. It also ranks more vibrant than 76% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 72% of Tennessee towns.

   4,297 people · Humphreys County · median home $171,900 · income $43,773 · Jan low 26°F · 3 in snow

   Full Waverly, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 88% of Tennessee towns

    Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government is a town of 6,461 people in Moore County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 95% of Tennessee towns.

    6,461 people · Moore County · median home $285,300 · income $66,469 · Jan low 27°F · 2 in snow

    Full Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Colonial Heights, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 89% of Tennessee towns

    Colonial Heights is a community of 3,055 people in Sullivan County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for families than 91% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 88% of Tennessee towns.

    3,055 people · Sullivan County · median home $217,100 · income $80,148 · Jan low 27°F · 5 in snow

    Full Colonial Heights, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Algood, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 89% of Tennessee towns

    Algood is a city of 3,963 people in Putnam County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for young professionals than 76% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 74% of Tennessee towns.

    3,963 people · Putnam County · median home $190,300 · income $42,359 · Jan low 27°F · 6 in snow

    Full Algood, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Louisville, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 90% of Tennessee towns

    Louisville is a city of 4,384 people in Blount County, Tennessee. It also ranks more upscale than 81% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 72% of Tennessee towns.

    4,384 people · Blount County · median home $379,900 · income $89,744 · Jan low 30°F · 5 in snow

    Full Louisville, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Huntingdon, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 91% of Tennessee towns

    Huntingdon is a town of 4,439 people in Carroll County, Tennessee. It also ranks easier by car than 97% of Tennessee towns and better for first-time buyers than 81% of Tennessee towns.

    4,439 people · Carroll County · median home $160,500 · income $51,969 · Jan low 28°F · 3 in snow

    Full Huntingdon, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11South Pittsburg, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 92% of Tennessee towns

    South Pittsburg is a city of 3,106 people in Marion County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for cycling than 98% of Tennessee towns and more vibrant than 79% of Tennessee towns.

    3,106 people · Marion County · median home $187,100 · income $57,865 · Jan low 29°F · 5 in snow

    Full South Pittsburg, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Apison, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 93% of Tennessee towns

    Apison is a community of 4,428 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Tennessee towns and more of a college town than 98% of Tennessee towns.

    4,428 people · Hamilton County · median home $459,000 · income $129,307 · Jan low 32°F · 0 in snow

    Full Apison, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Kingston, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 93% of Tennessee towns

    Kingston is a city of 5,953 people in Roane County, Tennessee. It also ranks more of a college town than 95% of Tennessee towns and hipper than 76% of Tennessee towns.

    5,953 people · Roane County · median home $220,000 · income $71,675 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow

    Full Kingston, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Jonesborough, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 94% of Tennessee towns

    Jonesborough is a town of 5,860 people in Washington County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Tennessee towns and hipper than 93% of Tennessee towns.

    5,860 people · Washington County · median home $299,200 · income $74,015 · Jan low 25°F · 8 in snow

    Full Jonesborough, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Harrogate, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 97% of Tennessee towns

    Harrogate is a city of 4,400 people in Claiborne County, Tennessee. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Tennessee towns and hipper than 94% of Tennessee towns.

    4,400 people · Claiborne County · median home $203,900 · income $65,586 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

    Full Harrogate, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Tusculum, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 98% of Tennessee towns

    Tusculum is a city of 3,298 people in Greene County, Tennessee. It also ranks more of a college town than 99% of Tennessee towns and better transit than 99% of Tennessee towns.

    3,298 people · Greene County · median home $267,500 · income $70,694 · Jan low 26°F · 8 in snow

    Full Tusculum, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Signal Mountain, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 98% of Tennessee towns

    Signal Mountain is a town of 8,852 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for families than 98% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 98% of Tennessee towns.

    8,852 people · Hamilton County · median home $544,300 · income $141,008 · Jan low 29°F · 3 in snow

    Full Signal Mountain, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Tellico Village, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 99% of Tennessee towns

    Tellico Village is a community of 7,311 people in Loudon County, Tennessee. It also ranks quieter than 99% of Tennessee towns and more upscale than 93% of Tennessee towns.

    7,311 people · Loudon County · median home $517,200 · income $106,875 · Jan low 28°F · 4 in snow

    Full Tellico Village, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Fairfield Glade, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 99% of Tennessee towns

    Fairfield Glade is a community of 9,152 people in Cumberland County, Tennessee. It also ranks quieter than 100% of Tennessee towns and better for a vacation home than 95% of Tennessee towns.

    9,152 people · Cumberland County · median home $356,800 · income $71,682 · Jan low 26°F · 6 in snow

    Full Fairfield Glade, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Sewanee, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 100% of Tennessee towns

    Sewanee is a community of 2,535 people in Franklin County, Tennessee. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Tennessee towns and more of a college town than 100% of Tennessee towns.

    2,535 people · Franklin County · median home $465,500 · income $136,111 · Jan low 29°F · 5 in snow

    Full Sewanee, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Unicoi, Tennessee

    Better for retirees than 100% of Tennessee towns

    Unicoi is a town of 3,833 people in Unicoi County, Tennessee. It also ranks quieter than 95% of Tennessee towns and better transit than 92% of Tennessee towns.

    3,833 people · Unicoi County · median home $244,300 · income $42,424 · Jan low 25°F · 9 in snow

    Full Unicoi, Tennessee profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Tennessee rankings

• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Tennessee
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Tennessee
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Tennessee
• 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Tennessee
• 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Tennessee
• The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Tennessee With Mild Winters
• The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Tennessee

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
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• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio