The Town FilesTiptonville, Tennessee
Town in Lake County · population 3,976 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,500
- Household income
- $23,027
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.7
Tiptonville is a town of 3,976 people in Lake County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $106,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks quieter than 84% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Tennessee towns, easier by car than 78% of Tennessee towns.
How Tiptonville 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 Tiptonville is worth $106,500, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $23,027, which is more affordable than 18% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $510 a month. 39.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tiptonville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,500 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $510 | $863 |
| Median household income | $23,027 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 39.7% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Tiptonville
| People | Tiptonville | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 9.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.6% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.4% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.5% | 88.2% |
Weather in Tiptonville
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.4 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 89 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tiptonville since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 3.0 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 7, 2014.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 22 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 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
| January 14, 2022 | Tornado | DR-4637: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 1,452 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,138 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Tiptonville itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Tiptonville
2 public schools with 395 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Co High School | 9-12 | 209 | 11.0 |
| Margaret Newton Elementary | PK-2 | 186 | 10.3 |
Towns near Tiptonville
- Portageville, MO13.0 mi · 2,942 people · home $152,400
- New Madrid, MO15.1 mi · 2,787 people · home $127,500
- Caruthersville, MO17.2 mi · 5,562 people · home $107,700
- Newbern, TN21.2 mi · 3,349 people · home $99,700
- Dyersburg, TN23.4 mi · 16,164 people · home $168,300
- Union City, TN24.0 mi · 11,170 people · home $146,000
- East Prairie, MO28.3 mi · 2,943 people · home $68,400
Tiptonville questions
Is Tiptonville, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tiptonville scores better for retirees than 14% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 84%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Tiptonville?
The median owner-occupied home in Tiptonville is valued at $106,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $23,027, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $510 a month.
What is the weather like in Tiptonville?
July highs average 87.0°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6.4 inches of snow.
Does Tiptonville get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tiptonville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 10, 2021. 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)