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Living in
Morristown.
About
Life in Morristown
Living in Morristown means settling into a genuine working city rather than a tourist destination, though the Great Smoky Mountains are only 43 miles away if you want weekend hiking or outdoor exploration. The economy is built on manufacturing and industry—the city employs nearly 10,000 people in those sectors alone—so you'll find stable job markets across aerospace, food processing, machine production, and other trades. A 3.9% unemployment rate is notably strong, and median household income sits at $47,917, though median home values around $181,100 reflect modest appreciation compared to national trends.
Morristown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.0%
Foreign-Born
12.4%
Broadband Internet
87.4%
of households
Population Growth
+10.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Morristown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Morristown, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (53.6%), and 19.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.1%
of households
Married Couples
38.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.52
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% below TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Morristown
In Morristown, rent runs 26% below the TN average, and home values are 37% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$880
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $263,450 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above TN average
Unemployment in Morristown
Unemployment in Morristown is 0.4 percentage points higher than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Morristown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.5 min avg
How Morristown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Morristown, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 48 mi
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Small hub1.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 148 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 56% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Morristown runs 56% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
514
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,115.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Morristown Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
47.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hamblen County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hamblen County, which includes Morristown, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
| 2023 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hamblen County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, TN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 13 miles from Morristown) is typically good — 215 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
215
per year
Moderate Days
22
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Jefferson County, TN (13 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Morristown has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.1"
Annual Snowfall
8.8"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
84
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
136
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 27°F | 4.05" |
| Feb | 51°F | 30°F | 4.49" |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 4.88" |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 4.44" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 3.75" |
| Jun | 83°F | 63°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 86°F | 67°F | 4.73" |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 3.33" |
| Sep | 81°F | 59°F | 3.24" |
| Oct | 70°F | 47°F | 2.76" |
| Nov | 59°F | 36°F | 3.37" |
| Dec | 49°F | 31°F | 4.57" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Morristown
Morristown has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
16.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Morristown Hamblen Hospital Association
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Tennova Healthcare-jefferson Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.9 mi away · Jefferson City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Morristown
Morristown's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 15.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Morristown
Walters State Community College
Public · 2-year · 3,591 students · in-state tuition $4,896 · 36% graduate · median earnings $40,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, 26 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Morristown
Morristown has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (26 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
43 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
63 mi awayObed Wild & Scenic River
Wild & Scenic River
73 mi awayBig South Fork National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
79 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
80 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Morristown
Morristown-Hamblen Public Library
417 West Main Street, Morristown
Cities Near Morristown
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Morristown?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Morristown FAQ
Is Morristown, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Morristown's median rent is $882/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $47,917/year. Median home value is $181,100.
Is Morristown, Tennessee safe?⌄
Morristown's violent crime rate was 514 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2116 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Morristown, Tennessee?⌄
Morristown has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Morristown, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Morristown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $882/month and median household income is $47,917/year. The median home value is $181,100. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Morristown, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Morristown is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from