Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Altamont’s best subject grade is an A for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for health. Altamont’s average trip to work is 34 minutes, against 25 minutes in Tennessee’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Only 8 of Tennessee’s 291 towns score lower on health. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 91% of U.S. towns. Altamont has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Northcutts Cove Chapel and H. B. Northcutt House. Altamont has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Altamont beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
H. B. Northcutt House| Widest gap | Altamont | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 27% | 14.6% |
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Tennessee), ordered by how far Altamont is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 110 in 1880, a low of 67 in 1890, 1,117 in 2020. The archive holds 16 old photos and papers going back to 1885 and 4 maps from 1956 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Altamont, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Altamont.
34% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Altamont, above both Tennessee’s towns (24%) and U.S. towns (19%). 22% of adults report frequent physical distress in Altamont. Only 3 of the 177 Tennessee towns we compare have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Altamont.
| Altamont | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 19% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 20% | 17% |
| What stands out | Altamont | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 27% | 14.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 15.9% | 8.6% |
| More smokers | 29% | 17.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Grundy County school district. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| North ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 385 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TN on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Altamont for work: only 14% work in town. Altamont’s median household income is $41,000. Jobs based in Altamont grew to 584 in 2023, 52 more than in 2013.
| Altamont | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,000 | $61,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 12% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical Altamont home is worth about $164,000, up 6.4% in a year, 51% below the Tennessee typical home. 92% of Altamont households own their home.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The July high in Altamont is 84°F. Altamont has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Altamont since 2019.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
3.9 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Savage Gulf State Park, at 79 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Savage Gulf State Park | — | 79 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Altamont; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Altamont residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Tennessee.
Where Altamont’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 places in Altamont on the National Register of Historic Places.
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
