The Town FilesErwin, Tennessee
Town in Unicoi County · population 6,083 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $180,900
- Household income
- $47,487
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.3
Erwin is a town of 6,083 people in Unicoi County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $180,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Tennessee towns, more of a college town than 99% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 95% of Tennessee towns.
How Erwin 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 Erwin is worth $180,900, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $47,487, which is more affordable than 46% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $614 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Erwin | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $180,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $614 | $863 |
| Median household income | $47,487 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Erwin
| People | Erwin | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Erwin
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erwin since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 10, 1980 about 5.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 7, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 1, 1990.
Severe weather in Unicoi County since 1996
Unicoi County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Unicoi County
Unicoi County had 5,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,936 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Erwin itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Erwin
6 public schools with 1,835 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unicoi Co High School | 9-12 | 648 | 12.7 |
| Unicoi Co Middle School | 6-8 | 446 | 13.9 |
| Love Chapel Elementary | K-5 | 349 | 13.4 |
| Rock Creek Elementary | K-5 | 188 | 12.5 |
| Temple Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 106 | 10.6 |
| Unicoi Community Learning Center | PK-PK | 98 | 32.7 |
Towns near Erwin
- Unicoi, TN7.0 mi · 3,833 people · home $244,300
- Jonesborough, TN11.0 mi · 5,860 people · home $299,200
- Johnson City, TN13.7 mi · 71,046 people · home $268,200
- Elizabethton, TN16.5 mi · 14,546 people · home $172,900
- Tusculum, TN18.7 mi · 3,298 people · home $267,500
- Oak Grove, TN19.3 mi · 4,482 people · home $260,600
- Spurgeon, TN20.8 mi · 3,978 people · home $219,300
- Greeneville, TN22.8 mi · 15,479 people · home $227,400
Erwin questions
Is Erwin, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Erwin scores better for retirees than 78% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 20%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Erwin?
The median owner-occupied home in Erwin is valued at $180,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,487, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $614 a month.
What is the weather like in Erwin?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.3 inches of snow.
Does Erwin get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erwin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 10, 1980. 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)