The Town FilesRockwood, Tennessee
City in Roane County · population 5,444 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,700
- Household income
- $47,791
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.2
Rockwood is a city of 5,444 people in Roane County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $128,700, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more walkable than 85% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 78% of Tennessee towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Tennessee towns.
- #9 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Tennessee
- #10 in 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Cheapest Homes
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Tennessee With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #17 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Tennessee
- #18 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Tennessee
- #20 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Tennessee
How Rockwood 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 Rockwood is worth $128,700, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $47,791, which is more affordable than 84% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 53.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rockwood | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,700 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $774 | $863 |
| Median household income | $47,791 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.2% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rockwood
| People | Rockwood | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 88.2% |
Weather in Rockwood
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 60.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockwood since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 21, 1993 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 10, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 14, 2015.
Severe weather in Roane County since 1996
Roane 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 |
| September 27, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4742: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Roane County
Roane County had 19,050 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,676 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Rockwood itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Public schools in Rockwood
4 public schools with 1,396 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridge View Elementary | PK-5 | 604 | 15.5 |
| Rockwood High School | 9-12 | 342 | 15.5 |
| Rockwood Middle School | 6-8 | 281 | 14.8 |
| Pine View Elementary | PK-8 | 169 | 9.4 |
Towns near Rockwood
- Harriman, TN7.5 mi · 5,892 people · home $153,200
- Kingston, TN9.5 mi · 5,953 people · home $220,000
- Fairfield Glade, TN14.4 mi · 9,152 people · home $356,800
- Loudon, TN19.8 mi · 5,991 people · home $244,200
- Crossville, TN20.7 mi · 12,071 people · home $246,300
- Lake Tansi, TN21.6 mi · 4,629 people · home $280,900
- Sweetwater, TN21.7 mi · 6,312 people · home $178,400
- Lenoir City, TN22.3 mi · 10,117 people · home $252,400
Rockwood questions
Is Rockwood, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rockwood scores better for retirees than 50% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 68%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Rockwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Rockwood is valued at $128,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,791, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Rockwood?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Rockwood get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rockwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 21, 1993. 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)