Best counties to raise a family in Tennessee
Best counties to raise a family in Tennessee
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Tennessee using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Tipton County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 61,339
- Median household income: $71,736
- Median home value: $220,100
- Top places to live: Munford (B+), Atoka (B+), Brighton (B+)
#24. Obion County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 30,570
- Median household income: $53,102
- Median home value: $122,700
- Top places to live: South Fulton (B+), Union City (B+), Hornbeak (A-)
#23. Rhea County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 33,299
- Median household income: $58,133
- Median home value: $178,500
- Top places to live: Dayton (B+), Graysville (B-), Spring City (C+)
#22. Loudon County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 56,996
- Median household income: $80,296
- Median home value: $292,600
- Top places to live: Tellico Village (B+), Loudon (B+), Lenoir City (B)
#21. Hamblen County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 64,930
- Median household income: $52,794
- Median home value: $188,800
- Top places to live: Morristown (B-)
#20. Crockett County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (A+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,937
- Median household income: $59,049
- Median home value: $134,100
- Top places to live: Alamo (A-), Bells (B), Maury City (A-)
#19. Sullivan County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 159,693
- Median household income: $56,802
- Median home value: $190,800
- Top places to live: Walnut Hill (A), Bristol (A-), Colonial Heights (A-)
#18. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 35,617
- Median household income: $63,115
- Median home value: $209,100
- Top places to live: Park City (B+), Fayetteville (B), Petersburg (B)
#17. Putnam County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 81,366
- Median household income: $56,537
- Median home value: $246,800
- Top places to live: Cookeville (B+), Algood (B), Monterey (B-)
#16. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 98,845
- Median household income: $58,189
- Median home value: $189,700
- Top places to live: Three Way (B+), Jackson (B), Medon (B)
#15. Gibson County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 50,610
- Median household income: $59,009
- Median home value: $149,700
- Top places to live: Medina (A-), Rutherford (A-), Dyer (B+)
#14. Dyer County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 36,681
- Median household income: $54,973
- Median home value: $159,500
- Top places to live: Newbern (B+), Dyersburg (B), Trimble (B+)
#13. Weakley County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 32,959
- Median household income: $49,502
- Median home value: $136,300
- Top places to live: Martin (A-), Greenfield (A-), Gleason (B+)
#12. Davidson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 709,846
- Median household income: $75,664
- Median home value: $386,600
- Top places to live: Downtown (A+), Watkins Park (A+), Sulphur Dell (North Capital Area) (A+)
#11. Bradley County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 109,743
- Median household income: $63,789
- Median home value: $230,800
- Top places to live: Hopewell (A-), Cleveland (B+), Wildwood Lake (B)
#10. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 134,693
- Median household income: $61,051
- Median home value: $231,700
- Top places to live: Johnson City (A), Gray (A-), Jonesborough (B)
#9. Chester County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 17,452
- Median household income: $60,543
- Median home value: $155,200
- Top places to live: Henderson (A), Enville (C-)
#8. Sumner County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 200,553
- Median household income: $86,005
- Median home value: $364,000
- Top places to live: Hendersonville (A-), Shackle Island (A-), Gallatin (B+)
#7. Shelby County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 922,195
- Median household income: $62,337
- Median home value: $229,700
- Top places to live: Germantown (A+), Collierville (A+), Lakeland (A)
#6. Wilson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 153,587
- Median household income: $94,048
- Median home value: $397,000
- Top places to live: Mount Juliet (A), Lebanon (B+), Green Hill (B+)
#5. Hamilton County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 370,913
- Median household income: $72,568
- Median home value: $282,100
- Top places to live: Signal Mountain (A+), Lookout Mountain (A), Falling Water (A)
#4. Montgomery County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 227,957
- Median household income: $72,365
- Median home value: $248,300
- Top places to live: Clarksville (B+)
#3. Knox County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 487,401
- Median household income: $71,662
- Median home value: $279,700
- Top places to live: Farragut (A+), Knoxville (A-), Mascot (B)
#2. Rutherford County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 351,591
- Median household income: $82,588
- Median home value: $346,400
- Top places to live: Murfreesboro (A-), Smyrna (A-), La Vergne (B+)
#1. Williamson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 254,609
- Median household income: $131,202
- Median home value: $673,700
- Top places to live: Nolensville (A+), Brentwood (A+), Franklin (A+)
