What it's like to live in Sevierville
Sevierville 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 air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Sevierville deals with household incomes below the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Sevierville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Sevierville
Based on Sevierville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,162
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,240 a year
- 52% of Sevierville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$57,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,960
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,081/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,081 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $289,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $289,600 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Sevier 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.
Sevier County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 17% above US
385 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 3054/100k · Sevierville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 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 hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°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 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. 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 Great Smoky Mountains National Park (20 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Sevierville'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 a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,081/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low). It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Sevierville
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Seymour →
11 mi away · pop. 16,216
Rent $1,515/mo · Income $82,855
Compare with Sevierville →Moving to Knoxville →
22 mi away · pop. 195,185
Rent $1,191/mo · Income $54,039
Compare with Sevierville →Moving to Maryville →
25 mi away · pop. 32,392
Rent $1,157/mo · Income $81,963
Compare with Sevierville →Not sure Sevierville is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.