The Town FilesCovington, Tennessee
City in Tipton County · population 8,663 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,900
- Household income
- $42,254
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 40.3
Covington is a city of 8,663 people in Tipton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $185,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 94% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 73% of Tennessee towns.
How Covington 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 Covington is worth $185,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $42,254, which is more affordable than 23% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $933 a month. 45.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Covington | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $933 | $863 |
| Median household income | $42,254 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 45.3% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Covington
| People | Covington | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Covington
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 28.5°F. About 55.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Covington since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 31, 2023 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 68 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 6, 2003.
Severe weather in Tipton County since 1996
Tipton County has been included in 25 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 |
| September 4, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4735: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Tipton County
Tipton County had 11,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,303 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Covington itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Public schools in Covington
6 public schools with 2,903 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington High School | 9-12 | 657 | 14.0 |
| Crestview Elementary | PK-5 | 586 | 12.5 |
| Austin Peay Elementary School | PK-5 | 571 | 14.6 |
| Charger Academy | PK-5 | 508 | 16.4 |
| Crestview Middle School | 6-8 | 502 | 17.3 |
| Tipton County Alternative Learning Center | K-12 | 79 | 7.2 |
Towns near Covington
- Brighton, TN7.6 mi · 2,888 people · home $214,100
- Atoka, TN12.3 mi · 10,008 people · home $320,700
- Munford, TN12.7 mi · 6,302 people · home $244,400
- Ripley, TN13.9 mi · 7,800 people · home $154,900
- Osceola, AR20.9 mi · 6,976 people · home $99,900
- Millington, TN21.4 mi · 10,582 people · home $207,300
- Lakeland, TN21.4 mi · 13,904 people · home $388,900
- Arlington, TN21.7 mi · 14,549 people · home $424,400
Covington questions
Is Covington, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Covington scores better for retirees than 4% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 4%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Covington?
The median owner-occupied home in Covington is valued at $185,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,254, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $933 a month.
What is the weather like in Covington?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 28.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.4 inches of snow.
Does Covington get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Covington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 31, 2023. 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)