What it's like to live in Morristown
Morristown is a small city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Morristown deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Morristown compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Morristown
Based on Morristown's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,764
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $35,280 a year
- 41% of Morristown renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$36,220
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $18,110
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 38% below US
$882/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $882 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $181,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $181,100 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 56% above US
514 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2116/100k · Morristown Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 58% below US
15% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (26 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Morristown's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($882/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Morristown
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Sevierville →
26 mi away · pop. 18,397
Rent $1,081/mo · Income $52,421
Compare with Morristown →Moving to Greeneville →
27 mi away · pop. 15,646
Rent $650/mo · Income $49,889
Compare with Morristown →Not sure Morristown is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.