The Town FilesBolivar, Tennessee
City in Hardeman County · population 5,205 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,200
- Household income
- $39,028
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 34.5
Bolivar is a city of 5,205 people in Hardeman County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $150,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better transit than 93% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 74% of Tennessee towns.
How Bolivar 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 Bolivar is worth $150,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $39,028, which is more affordable than 46% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bolivar | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $808 | $863 |
| Median household income | $39,028 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bolivar
| People | Bolivar | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Bolivar
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.1°F. About 56.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolivar since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 21, 1952 about 1.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 7, 2006.
Severe weather in Hardeman County since 1996
Hardeman 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 |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4701: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Hardeman County
Hardeman County had 6,576 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,533 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Bolivar itself the ACS puts it at 13.2%.
Public schools in Bolivar
3 public schools with 1,692 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar Elementary | PK-5 | 705 | 13.6 |
| Central High School | 9-12 | 691 | 14.7 |
| Bolivar Middle School | 6-8 | 296 | 14.1 |
Towns near Bolivar
- Whiteville, TN8.6 mi · 2,606 people · home $124,400
- Somerville, TN20.6 mi · 3,415 people · home $312,900
- Henderson, TN23.5 mi · 6,308 people · home $147,900
- Selmer, TN24.4 mi · 4,446 people · home $155,900
- Brownsville, TN26.4 mi · 9,788 people · home $158,100
- Jackson, TN29.0 mi · 68,205 people · home $217,800
- Oakland, TN29.8 mi · 8,936 people · home $319,100
Bolivar questions
Is Bolivar, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bolivar scores better for retirees than 7% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 23%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Bolivar?
The median owner-occupied home in Bolivar is valued at $150,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,028, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Bolivar?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.1 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Bolivar get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolivar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 21, 1952. 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)