The Town FilesDandridge, Tennessee
Town in Jefferson County · population 3,344 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $259,100
- Household income
- $53,507
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.4
Dandridge is a town of 3,344 people in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $259,100, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 79% of Tennessee towns.
How Dandridge 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 Dandridge is worth $259,100, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $53,507, which is more affordable than 15% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $799 a month. 66.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dandridge | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $259,100 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $799 | $863 |
| Median household income | $53,507 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Dandridge
| People | Dandridge | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 88.2% |
Weather in Dandridge
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 103 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dandridge since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 27, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4742: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 14,061 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,672 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Dandridge itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Dandridge
4 public schools with 3,431 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Co High School | 9-12 | 1,959 | 16.2 |
| Maury Middle School | 6-8 | 564 | 14.5 |
| Dandridge Elementary | PK-5 | 537 | 16.8 |
| Piedmont Elementary | PK-5 | 371 | 14.8 |
Towns near Dandridge
- Jefferson City, TN6.9 mi · 8,419 people · home $213,200
- Sevierville, TN12.8 mi · 17,889 people · home $289,600
- Newport, TN13.8 mi · 6,868 people · home $133,500
- Morristown, TN14.0 mi · 30,431 people · home $181,100
- Pigeon Forge, TN17.7 mi · 6,343 people · home $291,800
- Mascot, TN18.9 mi · 2,760 people · home $206,000
- Seymour, TN21.2 mi · 14,705 people · home $308,100
- Gatlinburg, TN21.4 mi · 3,577 people · home $332,000
Dandridge questions
Is Dandridge, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dandridge scores better for retirees than 33% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 19%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Dandridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Dandridge is valued at $259,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,507, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $799 a month.
What is the weather like in Dandridge?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Dandridge get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dandridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 27, 2011. 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)