The Town FilesFayetteville, Tennessee
City in Lincoln County · population 7,068 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,800
- Household income
- $49,223
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 34.4
Fayetteville is a city of 7,068 people in Lincoln County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $230,800, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks hipper than 85% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 82% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 81% of Tennessee towns.
How Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville is worth $230,800, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $49,223, which is more affordable than 17% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $779 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fayetteville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,800 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $779 | $863 |
| Median household income | $49,223 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fayetteville
| People | Fayetteville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Fayetteville
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 30.5°F. About 59.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 29, 1952 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 155 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on January 21, 2010.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 17 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 |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3473: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 10,289 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,594 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Fayetteville itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Fayetteville
7 public schools with 3,826 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County High School | 9-12 | 1,208 | 18.6 |
| Highland Rim School | PK-8 | 721 | 15.3 |
| South Lincoln School | PK-8 | 653 | 16.7 |
| Ralph Askins School | PK-5 | 594 | 17.5 |
| Fayetteville High School | 9-12 | 347 | 13.3 |
| Fayetteville Middle School | 6-8 | 256 | 17.1 |
| Lincoln Central Academy | 4-12 | 47 | 15.7 |
Towns near Fayetteville
- Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government, TN15.0 mi · 6,461 people · home $285,300
- Hazel Green, AL15.7 mi · 4,105 people · home $230,800
- Meridianville, AL19.0 mi · 8,209 people · home $291,900
- Moores Mill, AL20.7 mi · 6,729 people · home $274,000
- Harvest, AL23.2 mi · 5,893 people · home $281,300
- Lewisburg, TN24.5 mi · 12,288 people · home $225,700
- Tullahoma, TN24.8 mi · 20,339 people · home $251,900
- Shelbyville, TN25.0 mi · 23,557 people · home $244,000
Fayetteville questions
Is Fayetteville, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fayetteville scores better for retirees than 40% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 17%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Fayetteville?
The median owner-occupied home in Fayetteville is valued at $230,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,223, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $779 a month.
What is the weather like in Fayetteville?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 30.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Fayetteville get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fayetteville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 29, 1952. 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)