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Living in
Oak Ridge.
About
Life in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge functions as a specialized knowledge economy town where most people either work in federal science labs, private research contractors, or support industries tied to nuclear technology and advanced manufacturing. The median household income sits around $72,000 with a 39% college degree rate, so the population skews educated and professional. Housing costs are moderate for the region—median home values around $270,200 and rent near $1,131—though the city's aging infrastructure from the 1940s means older homes and systems are common.
Oak Ridge at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
+12.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Oak Ridge: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oak Ridge, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.0%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
19.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.9%
of households
Married Couples
42.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
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 about average for TN
Rent, home values, and income in Oak Ridge
In Oak Ridge, home values are 6% below the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,835
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $325,208 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TN
Unemployment in Oak Ridge
Unemployment in Oak Ridge is close to the TN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Oak Ridge Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.7 min avg
How Oak Ridge residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oak Ridge, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Small hub1.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 135 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oak Ridge is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
314
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,195.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oak Ridge Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Anderson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Anderson County, which includes Oak Ridge, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 9 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $603,000 |
| 2018 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
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
Anderson County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Anderson County, which includes Oak Ridge, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Anderson County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oak Ridge has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
59.7"
Annual Snowfall
4.4"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
75
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 29°F | 5.50" |
| Feb | 51°F | 32°F | 5.93" |
| Mar | 61°F | 39°F | 5.55" |
| Apr | 70°F | 47°F | 5.58" |
| May | 78°F | 56°F | 4.50" |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.76" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 5.90" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 81°F | 61°F | 4.13" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.29" |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 5.00" |
| Dec | 49°F | 32°F | 5.84" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital and Center
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Fort Loudoun Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Lenoir City
Parkwest Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.2 mi away · Knoxville
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.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Obed Wild & Scenic River, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Obed Wild & Scenic River (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Obed Wild & Scenic River
Wild & Scenic River
20 mi awayBig South Fork National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
45 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
51 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
59 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
82 mi awayChickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
National Military Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge Public Library
1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge
Cities Near Oak Ridge
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oak Ridge?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oak Ridge FAQ
Is Oak Ridge, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Oak Ridge's median rent is $1,131/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,311/year. Median home value is $270,200.
Is Oak Ridge, Tennessee safe?⌄
Oak Ridge's violent crime rate was 314 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1195 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oak Ridge, Tennessee?⌄
Oak Ridge has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oak Ridge, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Oak Ridge is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,131/month and median household income is $72,311/year. The median home value is $270,200. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oak Ridge, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Oak Ridge 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