The Town FilesNewport, Tennessee
City in Cocke County · population 6,868 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,500
- Household income
- $31,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 43.9
Newport is a city of 6,868 people in Cocke County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $133,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Tennessee towns, more vibrant than 71% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 70% of Tennessee towns.
How Newport 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 Newport is worth $133,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $31,250, which is more affordable than 27% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $720 a month. 55.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newport | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $720 | $863 |
| Median household income | $31,250 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 55.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Newport
| People | Newport | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.1% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.0% | 88.2% |
Weather in Newport
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.0°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newport since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 18, 1976 about 1.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 12, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Cocke County since 1996
Cocke County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| October 2, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 27, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene |
Jobs and pay in Cocke County
Cocke County had 7,903 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,422 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Newport itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Newport
7 public schools with 3,298 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocke Co High School | 9-12 | 1,140 | 18.4 |
| Newport Grammar School | PK-8 | 690 | 12.3 |
| Edgemont Elementary | PK-8 | 561 | 16.5 |
| Northwest Elementary | PK-8 | 378 | 14.5 |
| Bridgeport Elementary | PK-8 | 287 | 15.9 |
| Centerview Elementary | PK-8 | 240 | 15.0 |
| Cocke Co Adult High School | 9-12 | 2 | — |
Towns near Newport
- Dandridge, TN13.8 mi · 3,344 people · home $259,100
- Morristown, TN17.7 mi · 30,431 people · home $181,100
- Jefferson City, TN19.4 mi · 8,419 people · home $213,200
- Sevierville, TN22.0 mi · 17,889 people · home $289,600
- Gatlinburg, TN23.3 mi · 3,577 people · home $332,000
- Pigeon Forge, TN23.4 mi · 6,343 people · home $291,800
- Greeneville, TN25.5 mi · 15,479 people · home $227,400
- Bean Station, TN26.5 mi · 2,967 people · home $164,600
Newport questions
Is Newport, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newport scores better for retirees than 12% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 32%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Newport?
The median owner-occupied home in Newport is valued at $133,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,250, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $720 a month.
What is the weather like in Newport?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 28.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Newport get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newport since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 18, 1976. 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)