The Town FilesCamden, Tennessee
City in Benton County · population 3,674 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,200
- Household income
- $55,029
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 40.4
Camden is a city of 3,674 people in Benton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $155,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 76% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How Camden 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 Camden is worth $155,200, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,029, which is more affordable than 81% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $749 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Camden | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,200 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $749 | $863 |
| Median household income | $55,029 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Camden
| People | Camden | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Camden
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Camden since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1971 about 8.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 187 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 2, 2025.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4550: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 4,264 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,755 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Camden itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Camden
6 public schools with 1,753 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden Central High School | 9-12 | 540 | 14.2 |
| Camden Elementary | PK-2 | 461 | 14.0 |
| Briarwood School | 3-5 | 393 | 14.6 |
| Camden Jr High School | 6-8 | 359 | 13.8 |
| Senator Frank P. Lashlee Career and Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
| Benton County Academy | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Camden
- Huntingdon, TN18.0 mi · 4,439 people · home $160,500
- Waverly, TN18.0 mi · 4,297 people · home $171,900
- Paris, TN19.3 mi · 10,316 people · home $163,600
- McKenzie, TN23.0 mi · 5,529 people · home $154,500
Camden questions
Is Camden, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Camden scores better for retirees than 70% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 28%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Camden?
The median owner-occupied home in Camden is valued at $155,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,029, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $749 a month.
What is the weather like in Camden?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Camden get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Camden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1971. 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)