The Town FilesJasper, Tennessee
Town in Marion County · population 3,612 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,000
- Household income
- $73,013
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 37.6
Jasper is a town of 3,612 people in Marion County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $209,000, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Tennessee towns, better for families than 85% of Tennessee towns, more upscale than 76% of Tennessee towns.
- #10 in The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Tennessee With Mild Winters
- #15 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Tennessee
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Tennessee
- #19 in 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Mildest Winters
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Tennessee
How Jasper 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 Jasper is worth $209,000, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $73,013, which is more affordable than 79% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $787 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jasper | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $787 | $863 |
| Median household income | $73,013 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jasper
| People | Jasper | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 88.2% |
Weather in Jasper
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 60.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jasper since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 27, 2011 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| May 8, 2021 | Tornado | DR-4601: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 8,355 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,930 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Jasper itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Jasper
4 public schools with 1,606 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper Elementary School | PK-4 | 650 | 17.6 |
| Marion Co High School | 9-12 | 514 | 15.6 |
| Jasper Middle School | 5-8 | 442 | 17.7 |
| Central Prep Academy | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Jasper
- South Pittsburg, TN6.8 mi · 3,106 people · home $187,100
- Signal Mountain, TN16.7 mi · 8,852 people · home $544,300
- Red Bank, TN18.6 mi · 11,899 people · home $269,400
- Chattanooga Valley, GA18.6 mi · 3,962 people · home $205,300
- Sewanee, TN19.2 mi · 2,535 people · home $465,500
- Rossville, GA19.8 mi · 3,980 people · home $133,000
- Fairview, GA20.8 mi · 6,409 people · home $183,600
- Chattanooga, TN21.1 mi · 181,099 people · home $283,200
Jasper questions
Is Jasper, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jasper scores better for retirees than 62% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 38%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Jasper?
The median owner-occupied home in Jasper is valued at $209,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,013, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $787 a month.
What is the weather like in Jasper?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Jasper get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jasper since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 27, 2011. 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)