The Town FilesGatlinburg, Tennessee
City in Sevier County · population 3,577 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $332,000
- Household income
- $53,475
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.0
Gatlinburg is a city of 3,577 people in Sevier County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $332,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better transit than 100% of Tennessee towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 95% of Tennessee towns.
How Gatlinburg 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 Gatlinburg is worth $332,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $53,475, which is more affordable than 3% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,098 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gatlinburg | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $332,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,098 | $863 |
| Median household income | $53,475 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.0% | — |
Who lives in Gatlinburg
| People | Gatlinburg | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in Gatlinburg
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 58.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Gatlinburg since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 13, 2013 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 26, 2012.
Severe weather in Sevier County since 1996
Sevier County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, 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 |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sevier County
Sevier County had 53,730 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,711 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Gatlinburg itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Gatlinburg
4 public schools with 1,452 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg Pittman High | 10-12 | 418 | 13.1 |
| Gatlinburg Pittman Junior High | 7-9 | 403 | 10.9 |
| Pi Beta Phi Elementary | PK-6 | 326 | 11.2 |
| Pittman Center Elementary | PK-6 | 305 | 14.5 |
Towns near Gatlinburg
- Pigeon Forge, TN6.4 mi · 6,343 people · home $291,800
- Sevierville, TN12.4 mi · 17,889 people · home $289,600
- Seymour, TN18.5 mi · 14,705 people · home $308,100
- Dandridge, TN21.4 mi · 3,344 people · home $259,100
- Newport, TN23.3 mi · 6,868 people · home $133,500
- Eagleton Village, TN25.2 mi · 5,393 people · home $197,700
- Alcoa, TN27.3 mi · 10,978 people · home $277,100
- Maryville, TN27.3 mi · 31,907 people · home $358,100
Gatlinburg questions
Is Gatlinburg, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gatlinburg scores better for retirees than 57% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 44%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Gatlinburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Gatlinburg is valued at $332,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,475, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $1,098 a month.
What is the weather like in Gatlinburg?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.2 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Gatlinburg get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Gatlinburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 13, 2013. 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)