What it's like to live in White House
White House is a small city in Tennessee with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, 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. White House deals with commute times longer than most cities, larger class sizes than the national average, above-average rainfall, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How White House compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to White House
Based on White House's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,852
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,040 a year
- 49% of White House renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$68,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,480
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,426/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,426 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $344,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $344,800 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Robertson County is 3.0%, 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.
Robertson County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 53% below US
155 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 775/100k · White House Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 33% above US
35 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 34.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°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
Education & workforce▼ 26% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Stones River National Battlefield (43 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
White House's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are commute times longer than most cities and above-average rainfall. A year of median rent ($1,426/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low) and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near White House
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Goodlettsville →
9 mi away · pop. 17,597
Rent $1,385/mo · Income $70,758
Compare with White House →Moving to Springfield →
11 mi away · pop. 19,255
Rent $1,139/mo · Income $59,465
Compare with White House →Moving to Hendersonville →
12 mi away · pop. 63,091
Rent $1,653/mo · Income $97,200
Compare with White House →Moving to Portland →
12 mi away · pop. 13,449
Rent $1,141/mo · Income $72,647
Compare with White House →Not sure White House is the one?
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