The Town FilesGermantown, Tennessee
City in Shelby County · population 41,333 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $470,800
- Household income
- $149,920
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 44.3
Germantown is a city of 41,333 people in Shelby County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $470,800, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 96% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Tennessee towns.
How Germantown 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 Germantown is worth $470,800, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $149,920, which is more affordable than 73% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,816 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Germantown | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $470,800 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,816 | $863 |
| Median household income | $149,920 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Germantown
| People | Germantown | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.9% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 20.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Germantown
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Germantown since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 27, 1994 about 1.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 64 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 100 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 7, 2006.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 28 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 |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 4, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4735: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 482,470 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,518 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Germantown itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Germantown
16 public schools with 13,986 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston High School | 9-12 | 1,932 | 17.6 |
| Germantown High | 9-12 | 1,765 | 18.4 |
| Macon-Hall Elementary | PK-5 | 1,166 | 19.1 |
| Riverdale Elementary School | PK-8 | 1,164 | 14.4 |
| Riverwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,018 | 17.9 |
| Houston Middle School | 6-8 | 886 | 15.8 |
| Cordova Elementary | PK-5 | 783 | 16.0 |
| Germanshire Elementary | PK-5 | 751 | 17.5 |
| Forest Hill Elementary School | PK-5 | 689 | 14.1 |
| Cordova Middle | 6-8 | 666 | 21.5 |
| Dogwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 647 | 14.4 |
| Farmington Elementary School | PK-5 | 645 | 13.7 |
Towns near Germantown
- Collierville, TN5.3 mi · 51,324 people · home $485,900
- Olive Branch, MS9.3 mi · 39,711 people · home $290,000
- Memphis, TN10.7 mi · 633,104 people · home $169,000
- Bartlett, TN10.7 mi · 57,786 people · home $310,400
- Lakeland, TN12.9 mi · 13,904 people · home $388,900
- Arlington, TN13.6 mi · 14,549 people · home $424,400
- Southaven, MS14.3 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
- Oakland, TN17.0 mi · 8,936 people · home $319,100
Germantown questions
Is Germantown, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Germantown scores better for retirees than 83% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 16%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Germantown?
The median owner-occupied home in Germantown is valued at $470,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $149,920, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,816 a month.
What is the weather like in Germantown?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Germantown get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Germantown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 27, 1994. 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)