Best counties to live in Tennessee

- Overall Rank: 1,262
- Population: 58,080
- Median household income: $57,424
- Median home value: $203,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $844 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: New Union Elementary School (grade B+), College Street Elementary School (grade B+), Hickerson Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Temple Baptist Christian School (grade unavailable), Tullahoma Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Tullahoma (grade B), Manchester (grade B), New Union (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,248
- Population: 33,031
- Median household income: $55,568
- Median home value: $155,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $780 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Frazier Elementary School (grade B+), Rhea Middle School (grade B+), Spring City Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Laurelbrook Sanitarium & School (grade B), Rhea County Academy (grade B minus), Calvary Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Dayton (grade B+), Graysville (grade B minus), Spring City (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: 1,189
- Population: 34,567
- Median household income: $65,325
- Median home value: $218,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $887 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Oak Grove Elementary School (grade A), Chapel Hill Elementary School (grade A minus), Delk-Henson Intermediate School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Lewisburg (grade B), Cornersville (grade B), Chapel Hill (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,144
- Population: 77,337
- Median household income: $60,633
- Median home value: $193,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $937 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Glenwood Elementary School (grade A), Linden Elementary School (grade A), Woodland Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Saint Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable), Christian Academy of Oak Ridge (grade unavailable), Norris Academy - Sequel (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oak Ridge (grade A), Norris (grade A minus), Clinton (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,098
- Population: 64,531
- Median household income: $49,656
- Median home value: $166,300 (67% own)
- Median rent: $799 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Russellville Elementary School (grade B+), Morristown West High School (grade B+), Lincoln Heights Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade A minus), All Saints' Episcopal School (grade unavailable), Faith Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Morristown (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 1,054
- Population: 135,951
- Median household income: $70,935
- Median home value: $247,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $957 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Coulter Grove Intermediate School (grade A), Foothills Elementary School (grade A), Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Clayton-Bradley Academy (grade A minus), Maryville Christian School (grade B), Apostolic Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Alcoa (grade A), Maryville (grade A), Louisville (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 998
- Population: 32,305
- Median household income: $48,025
- Median home value: $141,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $727 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Paris Elementary School (grade A minus), W.O. Inman Middle School (grade A minus), Dorothy & Noble Harrelson School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Bethel Fellowship Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Paris First Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Paris (grade B), Henry (grade B+), Puryear (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 994
- Population: 28,381
- Median household income: $49,700
- Median home value: $117,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $723 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: McKenzie Elementary School (grade A minus), McKenzie High School (grade A minus), Huntingdon Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Carroll Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: McKenzie (grade A minus), Clarksburg (grade A minus), Huntingdon (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 920
- Population: 35,365
- Median household income: $61,374
- Median home value: $186,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $755 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: South Lincoln School (grade B+), Highland Rim School (grade B+), Flintville School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Riverside Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Park City (grade B+), Fayetteville (grade B), Petersburg (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 893
- Population: 30,670
- Median household income: $50,638
- Median home value: $119,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $732 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Union City Middle School (grade A minus), South Fulton Elementary School (grade A minus), Hillcrest Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: South Fulton (grade A minus), Union City (grade B), Hornbeak (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 855
- Population: 50,455
- Median household income: $55,455
- Median home value: $130,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $756 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: South Gibson County Middle School (grade A minus), Medina Elementary School (grade A minus), Rutherford Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Milan Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Pathways Turning Point (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Medina (grade A minus), Rutherford (grade B+), Milan (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 821
- Population: 17,392
- Median household income: $57,471
- Median home value: $136,700 (77% own)
- Median rent: $658 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: East Chester Elementary School (grade A), Chester County Junior High School (grade A minus), Chester County Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Tennessee Children's Home - West Campus (grade unavailable), Jack's Creek Apostolic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Henderson (grade A), Enville (grade C minus)

- Overall Rank: 814
- Population: 55,507
- Median household income: $75,008
- Median home value: $263,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $960 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: North Middle School (grade A minus), Eaton Elementary School (grade A minus), Highland Park Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Crossroads Christian Academy (grade B), Lenoir City Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Tellico Village (grade B+), Loudon (grade B), Lenoir City (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 721
- Population: 13,955
- Median household income: $59,136
- Median home value: $127,000 (69% own)
- Median rent: $852 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Alamo Elementary School (grade A), Bells Elementary School (grade A minus), Crockett County Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Crockett Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Alamo (grade A minus), Bells (grade B minus), Maury City (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 714
- Population: 80,157
- Median household income: $54,371
- Median home value: $221,200 (61% own)
- Median rent: $842 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Capshaw Elementary School (grade A), Algood Elementary School (grade A minus), Prescott South Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Heritage Academy (grade A minus), Highland Rim Academy (grade A minus), Heavenly Host Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cookeville (grade B+), Algood (grade B minus), Monterey (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 693
- Population: 108,859
- Median household income: $60,692
- Median home value: $209,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $917 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Michigan Avenue Elementary School (grade A minus), North Lee Elementary School (grade A minus), Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Tennessee Christian Preparatory School (grade A minus), Cleveland Christian School (grade B), First Baptist Weekday Ministry (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cleveland (grade B+), Hopewell (grade B), Wildwood Lake (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 629
- Population: 98,644
- Median household income: $55,280
- Median home value: $170,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $994 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School (grade A), Madison Academic Magnet High School (grade A minus), Community Montessori School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: University School of Jackson (grade A+), Augustine School (grade A), Sacred Heart of Jesus High School (grade A)
- Top places: Three Way (grade B), Jackson (grade B), Medon (grade C+)

- Overall Rank: 619
- Population: 158,722
- Median household income: $54,357
- Median home value: $173,000 (73% own)
- Median rent: $793 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: John Adams Elementary School (grade A), Andrew Johnson Elementary School (grade A), Dobyns-Bennett High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Tennessee Avenue Christian Academy (grade B minus), Cedar View Christian School (grade C+), Lighthouse Christian School (grade C minus)
- Top places: Spurgeon (grade A minus), Colonial Heights (grade A minus), Bristol (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 578
- Population: 196,845
- Median household income: $81,883
- Median home value: $332,700 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,245 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Merrol Hyde Magnet School (grade A), Madison Creek Elementary School (grade A), T.W. Hunter Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Pope John Paul II Preparatory School (grade A), Highland Academy (grade B+), Hendersonville Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Hendersonville (grade A minus), Gallatin (grade B+), Goodlettsville (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 565
- Population: 926,440
- Median household income: $59,621
- Median home value: $206,100 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,103 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Lakeland Elementary School (grade A), Arlington Elementary School (grade A), Donelson Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lausanne Collegiate School (grade A+), St. Mary's Episcopal School (grade A+), Memphis University School (grade A+)
- Top places: Germantown (grade A), Collierville (grade A), Lakeland (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 513
- Population: 32,946
- Median household income: $47,769
- Median home value: $123,100 (65% own)
- Median rent: $723 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Martin Elementary School (grade A minus), Sharon School (grade A minus), Dresden Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Liberty Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Martin (grade A minus), Gleason (grade B+), Greenfield (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 449
- Population: 36,818
- Median household income: $53,150
- Median home value: $148,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $734 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Fifth Consolidated School (grade A), Northview Middle School (grade A minus), Dyersburg High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Christ Classical Academy (grade unavailable), McDowell Center for Children (grade unavailable), NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Newbern (grade B+), Dyersburg (grade B+), Trimble (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 384
- Population: 149,096
- Median household income: $89,462
- Median home value: $358,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,268 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Springdale Elementary School (grade A), Gladeville Middle School (grade A), W.A. Wright Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Friendship Christian School (grade B+), Mt. Juliet Christian Academy (grade B), Cedars Preparatory Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mount Juliet (grade A), Green Hill (grade B), Lebanon (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 380
- Population: 222,305
- Median household income: $67,890
- Median home value: $226,400 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,128 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Rossview Elementary School (grade A minus), St. Bethlehem Elementary School (grade A minus), Sango Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Clarksville Academy (grade A minus), Clarksville Christian School (grade B+), Olinto Mark Barsanti Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Clarksville (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 278
- Population: 133,282
- Median household income: $58,507
- Median home value: $211,100 (64% own)
- Median rent: $890 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Towne Acres Elementary School (grade A), Woodland Elementary School (grade A), Fairmont Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Providence Academy (grade A minus), Ashley Academy (grade unavailable), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Johnson City (grade A), Jonesborough (grade A minus), Gray (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 260
- Population: 709,786
- Median household income: $71,863
- Median home value: $354,700 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,394 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School (grade A+), Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (grade A+), Valor Flagship Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Nashville (grade A+), Harpeth Hall School (grade A+), Montgomery Bell Academy (grade A+)
- Top places: Downtown (grade A+), Sulphur Dell (North Capital Area) (grade A+), Music Row (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 242
- Population: 367,193
- Median household income: $69,069
- Median home value: $250,900 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,079 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: STEM School Chattanooga (grade A), Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (grade A), Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) - Upper School (grade A)
- Top private schools: McCallie School (grade A+), Baylor School (grade A+), Girls Preparatory School (grade A)
- Top places: Signal Mountain (grade A), Lookout Mountain (grade A), Walden (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 214
- Population: 343,727
- Median household income: $78,291
- Median home value: $305,100 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,311 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Central Magnet School (grade A+), Thurman Francis Arts Academy (grade A), McFadden School of Excellence (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lancaster Christian Academy (grade A minus), Providence Christian Academy (grade A minus), Redeemer Classical Academy (grade B+)
- Top places: Murfreesboro (grade A minus), Smyrna (grade A minus), La Vergne (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 140
- Population: 481,406
- Median household income: $68,580
- Median home value: $248,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,097 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Farragut High School (grade A), L&N STEM Academy (grade A), Farragut Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Webb School of Knoxville (grade A+), Rivers Edge Christian Academy (grade A), Knoxville Catholic High School (grade A)
- Top places: Farragut (grade A+), Knoxville (grade A minus), Mascot (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 53
- Population: 248,897
- Median household income: $125,943
- Median home value: $611,100 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,817 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Ravenwood High School (grade A+), Jordan Elementary School (grade A+), Creekside Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Battle Ground Academy (grade A+), Brentwood Academy (grade A), Currey Ingram Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Nolensville (grade A+), Brentwood (grade A+), Franklin (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.