The Town FilesMcKenzie, Tennessee
City in Carroll County · population 5,529 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $154,500
- Household income
- $37,236
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 32.9
McKenzie is a city of 5,529 people in Carroll County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $154,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks hipper than 92% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Tennessee towns, more of a college town than 81% of Tennessee towns.
How McKenzie 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 McKenzie is worth $154,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $37,236, which is more affordable than 37% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $663 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | McKenzie | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $663 | $863 |
| Median household income | $37,236 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McKenzie
| People | McKenzie | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 88.2% |
Weather in McKenzie
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 55.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McKenzie since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 7, 1971 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 139 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 7, 2014.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 24 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 7,603 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,607 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in McKenzie itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in McKenzie
3 public schools with 1,281 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKenzie Elementary | PK-4 | 545 | 14.3 |
| McKenzie Middle School | 5-8 | 384 | 15.4 |
| McKenzie High School | 9-12 | 352 | 12.6 |
Towns near McKenzie
- Huntingdon, TN10.3 mi · 4,439 people · home $160,500
- Dresden, TN14.6 mi · 3,019 people · home $126,900
- Paris, TN15.5 mi · 10,316 people · home $163,600
- Milan, TN20.8 mi · 8,171 people · home $144,100
- Camden, TN23.0 mi · 3,674 people · home $155,200
- Martin, TN23.7 mi · 10,825 people · home $198,300
- Trenton, TN27.0 mi · 4,240 people · home $126,000
- Medina, TN27.2 mi · 5,126 people · home $287,200
McKenzie questions
Is McKenzie, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McKenzie scores better for retirees than 76% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 22%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in McKenzie?
The median owner-occupied home in McKenzie is valued at $154,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,236, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $663 a month.
What is the weather like in McKenzie?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does McKenzie get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McKenzie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 7, 1971. 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)