The Town FilesHumboldt, Tennessee
City in Gibson County · population 7,874 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $102,300
- Household income
- $52,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 42.8
Humboldt is a city of 7,874 people in Gibson County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $102,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 88% of Tennessee towns, better for retirees than 79% of Tennessee towns.
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Tennessee
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Cheapest Homes
- #5 in The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Tennessee With Mild Winters
- #9 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Tennessee
- #44 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #44 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Humboldt 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 Humboldt is worth $102,300, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $52,917, which is more affordable than 97% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $742 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Humboldt | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $742 | $863 |
| Median household income | $52,917 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Humboldt
| People | Humboldt | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 88.2% |
Weather in Humboldt
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 28.1°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Humboldt since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 17, 1999 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 5, 2008.
Severe weather in Gibson County since 1996
Gibson 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 |
| December 13, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4751: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Gibson County
Gibson County had 14,908 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,973 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Humboldt itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Humboldt
3 public schools with 1,044 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Elementary School | 2-6 | 421 | 16.2 |
| Humboldt Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 407 | 11.3 |
| Stigall Primary School | PK-1 | 216 | 14.4 |
Towns near Humboldt
- Medina, TN6.4 mi · 5,126 people · home $287,200
- Milan, TN10.3 mi · 8,171 people · home $144,100
- Trenton, TN10.3 mi · 4,240 people · home $126,000
- Jackson, TN12.3 mi · 68,205 people · home $217,800
- Brownsville, TN25.8 mi · 9,788 people · home $158,100
- Newbern, TN28.7 mi · 3,349 people · home $99,700
- Huntingdon, TN29.9 mi · 4,439 people · home $160,500
- Henderson, TN30.0 mi · 6,308 people · home $147,900
Humboldt questions
Is Humboldt, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Humboldt scores better for retirees than 79% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 39%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Humboldt?
The median owner-occupied home in Humboldt is valued at $102,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,917, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $742 a month.
What is the weather like in Humboldt?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 28.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.4 inches of snow.
Does Humboldt get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Humboldt since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 17, 1999. 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)