The Town FilesMonterey, Tennessee
Town in Putnam County · population 2,746 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,000
- Household income
- $45,922
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 27.0
Monterey is a town of 2,746 people in Putnam County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $165,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650).
How Monterey 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 Monterey is worth $165,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $45,922, which is more affordable than 54% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $715 a month. 58.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monterey | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $715 | $863 |
| Median household income | $45,922 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.6% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Monterey
| People | Monterey | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.0 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 35.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.9% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 88.2% |
Weather in Monterey
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 27.2°F. About 64.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monterey since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1974 about 2.2 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 70 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on December 5, 1977.
Severe weather in Putnam County since 1996
Putnam County has been included in 19 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 |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 8, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4691: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 21, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4594: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Putnam County
Putnam County had 39,664 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,328 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Monterey itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Monterey
3 public schools with 1,257 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey High School | 7-12 | 544 | 13.6 |
| Burks Elementary | PK-6 | 530 | 13.6 |
| Wilson Elementary | PK-8 | 183 | 12.2 |
Towns near Monterey
- Algood, TN10.9 mi · 3,963 people · home $190,300
- Cookeville, TN13.9 mi · 34,842 people · home $305,400
- Livingston, TN17.1 mi · 3,905 people · home $123,000
- Sparta, TN18.6 mi · 4,998 people · home $217,000
- Crossville, TN18.7 mi · 12,071 people · home $246,300
- Lake Tansi, TN22.1 mi · 4,629 people · home $280,900
- Fairfield Glade, TN23.9 mi · 9,152 people · home $356,800
Monterey questions
Is Monterey, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monterey scores better for retirees than 49% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 25%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.0).
How much does a house cost in Monterey?
The median owner-occupied home in Monterey is valued at $165,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,922, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $715 a month.
What is the weather like in Monterey?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 27.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.3 inches of precipitation a year and 16.0 inches of snow.
Does Monterey get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monterey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1974. 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)