The Town FilesDresden, Tennessee
Town in Weakley County · population 3,019 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $126,900
- Household income
- $51,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 48.0
Dresden is a town of 3,019 people in Weakley County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $126,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 76% of Tennessee towns.
How Dresden 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 Dresden is worth $126,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $51,000, which is more affordable than 88% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dresden | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $725 | $863 |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dresden
| People | Dresden | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.0% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in Dresden
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 82 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dresden since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 10, 2021 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 9, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on October 16, 1984.
Severe weather in Weakley County since 1996
Weakley 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 |
| December 13, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4751: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4645: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Weakley County
Weakley County had 10,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,884 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Dresden itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Dresden
4 public schools with 1,102 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dresden Elementary | PK-4 | 440 | 13.8 |
| Dresden Middle School | 5-8 | 339 | 14.7 |
| Dresden High School | 9-12 | 323 | 14.0 |
| Weakley County Center For Adult Continuing Education | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Dresden
- Martin, TN9.4 mi · 10,825 people · home $198,300
- McKenzie, TN14.6 mi · 5,529 people · home $154,500
- Paris, TN21.8 mi · 10,316 people · home $163,600
- Union City, TN21.9 mi · 11,170 people · home $146,000
- Huntingdon, TN24.6 mi · 4,439 people · home $160,500
- Trenton, TN25.3 mi · 4,240 people · home $126,000
- Milan, TN25.6 mi · 8,171 people · home $144,100
Dresden questions
Is Dresden, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dresden scores better for retirees than 76% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 41%. 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Dresden?
The median owner-occupied home in Dresden is valued at $126,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,000, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Dresden?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Dresden get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dresden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 10, 2021. 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)