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Living in
Powell.
Powell is an unincorporated community in Knox County, TN. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Powell
This is a solid, working community nestled in Knox County's Emory Road corridor—the kind of place where people actually put down roots and stay because the fundamentals work. Powell sits between the ridges typical of Appalachia with easy access to Knoxville without being swallowed by it, and that geography matters for your daily life; you get suburban convenience with a 24-minute average commute but without feeling trapped in endless sprawl. The job market is genuinely stable—unemployment sits at 2.9%, well below national averages, anchored by DeRoyal Industries (a major medical products manufacturer) and smaller employers throughout the area, so finding work isn't the gamble it is in many mid-sized towns.
Powell at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Powell: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Powell, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (73.1%), and 8.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.6%
of households
Married Couples
54.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.69
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 7% above TN average
Rent, home values, and income in Powell
In Powell, rent runs 7% above the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,041
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $360,480 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below TN average
Unemployment in Powell and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Knox County, which includes Powell, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
Powell: Knox County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Knox County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Powell is about 3% of Knox County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Powell Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Knoxville, TN metro area
Commute24.7 min avg
How Powell residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Powell, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Small hub1.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 148 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.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Knox County Sheriff's Office, which covers Powell, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
167.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
720
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Knox County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Knox County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Knox County, which includes Powell, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $102,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.7M |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32.5M |
| 2018 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | 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
Knox County, county-wide
Powell is about 3% of Knox County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Knox County, which includes Powell, is typically good — 230 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
230
per year
Moderate Days
134
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Knox County, county-wide
Powell is about 3% of Knox County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Powell has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.5"
Annual Snowfall
4.4"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
87
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 26°F | 5.23" |
| Feb | 53°F | 29°F | 5.12" |
| Mar | 61°F | 36°F | 5.28" |
| Apr | 71°F | 44°F | 5.25" |
| May | 79°F | 54°F | 4.53" |
| Jun | 86°F | 62°F | 3.96" |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 5.82" |
| Aug | 88°F | 65°F | 3.42" |
| Sep | 83°F | 59°F | 4.13" |
| Oct | 72°F | 46°F | 3.05" |
| Nov | 61°F | 35°F | 4.10" |
| Dec | 51°F | 30°F | 5.91" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Powell
Powell has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Physicians Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
East Tennessee Behavioral Health
Psychiatric · 5.6 mi away · Knoxville
East Tennessee Childrens Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Knoxville
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.3 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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Powell
Powell's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 30.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Powell (within 15 miles)
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
7.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,418 students · in-state tuition $13,812 · 72% graduate · median earnings $65,090 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 8,745 students · in-state tuition $19,360 · 45% graduate · median earnings $45,099 (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: Obed Wild & Scenic River, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Powell
Powell has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Obed Wild & Scenic River (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Obed Wild & Scenic River
Wild & Scenic River
32 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
42 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
47 mi awayBig South Fork National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
50 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
67 mi awayMill Springs Battlefield National Monument
National Monument
82 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Powell
Powell Branch Library
330 West Emory Road, Powell
Cities Near Powell
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Powell?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Powell FAQ
Is Powell, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Powell's median rent is $1,276/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $82,434/year. Median home value is $299,400.
Is Powell, Tennessee safe?⌄
Powell is policed by the Knox County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 168 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 720 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Powell, Tennessee?⌄
Knox County, which includes Powell, has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Powell, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Powell is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,276/month and median household income is $82,434/year. The median home value is $299,400. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Powell, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Powell is 25 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