What it's like to live in Red Bank
Red Bank is a small city in Tennessee with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Red Bank deals with household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, above-average rainfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Red Bank compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Red Bank
Based on Red Bank's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,566
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,320 a year
- 50% of Red Bank renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$53,880
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,940
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,283/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,283 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $269,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $269,400 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hamilton County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hamilton County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 35% below US
215 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1123/100k · Red Bank Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 24% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below 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 Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (12 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Red Bank'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 air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,283/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Red Bank
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Chattanooga →
4 mi away · pop. 185,783
Rent $1,256/mo · Income $64,523
Compare with Red Bank →Moving to Middle Valley →
9 mi away · pop. 12,187
Rent $1,180/mo · Income $95,000
Compare with Red Bank →Moving to Soddy-Daisy →
12 mi away · pop. 13,231
Rent $1,047/mo · Income $75,113
Compare with Red Bank →Not sure Red Bank is the one?
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