The Town FilesSignal Mountain, Tennessee
Town in Hamilton County · population 8,852 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $544,300
- Household income
- $141,008
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 44.3
Signal Mountain is a town of 8,852 people in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $544,300, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Tennessee towns, better for families than 98% of Tennessee towns, more upscale than 98% of Tennessee towns.
How Signal Mountain 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 Signal Mountain is worth $544,300, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $141,008, which is more affordable than 42% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,852 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Signal Mountain | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $544,300 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,852 | $863 |
| Median household income | $141,008 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Signal Mountain
| People | Signal Mountain | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 26.1% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 88.2% |
Weather in Signal Mountain
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 58.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Signal Mountain since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 29, 1997 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton 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 |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 221,207 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,004 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Signal Mountain itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Signal Mountain
3 public schools with 2,705 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal Mountain Middle/High School | 6-12 | 1,383 | 17.1 |
| Nolan Elementary School | PK-5 | 727 | 17.7 |
| Thrasher Elementary School | K-5 | 595 | 18.6 |
Towns near Signal Mountain
- Red Bank, TN3.4 mi · 11,899 people · home $269,400
- Chattanooga, TN7.5 mi · 181,099 people · home $283,200
- Middle Valley, TN8.8 mi · 11,695 people · home $319,400
- Harrison, TN11.1 mi · 7,902 people · home $307,400
- East Ridge, TN12.0 mi · 22,167 people · home $211,100
- Rossville, GA12.0 mi · 3,980 people · home $133,000
- Soddy-Daisy, TN12.6 mi · 13,070 people · home $256,600
- Lakeview, GA12.6 mi · 4,777 people · home $171,700
Signal Mountain questions
Is Signal Mountain, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Signal Mountain scores better for retirees than 98% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 34%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Signal Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home in Signal Mountain is valued at $544,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $141,008, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,852 a month.
What is the weather like in Signal Mountain?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Signal Mountain get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Signal Mountain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 29, 1997. 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)