Church-Hill-Bays-tn1, 2015
Church Hill’s story
153 years in pictures
Census counts: 769 in 1960, 6,998 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2015 and 4 maps from 1935 on.
- 1873Church Hill is settled
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
Population
7,297
2025 Census estimate · +4.3% since 2020
Typical home
$261K
+5.7% in a year
Household income
$66K
median
Median age
44.6
years
Jobs based here
1,494
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#51 of 175 in TN
Is Church Hill a good place to live?
Church Hill grades B− overall, 51st among Tennessee's 175 graded towns, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. It reports less crime per resident than 84% of U.S. towns and natural-hazard risk is low. Its lowest everyday mark is in health: residents are less healthy than 68% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. A typical home there costs about $261K, 4.5 years of the Kingsport metro’s $58K median household income. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. Among 134 Tennessee towns, just 9 have a lower property crime rate than Church Hill.
What makes Church Hill stand out
Where Church Hill beats most towns.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Church Hill for work
Where Church Hill’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,494jobs based in Church Hill
7%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Church Hill grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Tennessee), ordered by how far Church Hill is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 19% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SafetyA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 3.4% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →HealthWellmont Holston Valley Medical Center 9.5 miles awayCOpen →Jobs & income$66K median household income; 1,494 jobs based hereC+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC−Open →History2 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life1.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market29 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 44.6; 18% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Church Hill: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Church Hill, and how to reach them.
PowerHolston Electric Coop14.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFirst U.d. of Hawkins County water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpFrom the town’s siteTrash and recycling rulesTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Tennessee you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHawkins County Election CommissionHawkins County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code3764237642 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Church Hill.
Church Hill fares better on crime within Tennessee than nationally, looks healthier within Tennessee than nationally and has milder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of Tennessee.
SafetyA−
Church Hill’s grade for safety is an A−
At 7.3 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 97% of Tennessee’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 8 reported in 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 residents.
At 1.1 per 1,000 residents, Church Hill’s violent crime rate is below Tennessee’s towns (2.7) and close to U.S. towns (1.6).
84%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Church Hill1.1
Tennessee5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Church Hill2.8
Tennessee16.6
U.S.15.5
84th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
97th
percentile among TN towns
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
21
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB−
Public schools in Church Hill fall behind 54% of Tennessee districts
Its public schools are run by the Hawkins County school district. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Volunteer High School, with 953 students.
46%of TN districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church Hill MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 741 | C+ |
| Volunteer High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 953 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TN on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Church Hill
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 81% of U.S. communities.
19risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Church Hill has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Church Hill for work: only 7% work in town. 6.4% of residents live below the poverty line in Church Hill, below both the Tennessee town median (14%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). The top destinations are Kingsport (34%), Johnson City (10%) and Rogersville (7%).
7%work in town
| Church Hill | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.5% | 12% | 8% |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Church Hill7%
Kingsport34%
Johnson City10%
Rogersville7%
Morristown3%
14 mi
median commute distance
1,494
jobs based in Church Hill
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 19% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC
Church Hill’s grade for health is a C
Within Tennessee it is healthier than 66% of the 176 graded towns: much of Tennessee scores lower on these measures.
30% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Church Hill. Church Hill beats the Tennessee average on 5 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 19% of adults report frequent mental distress in Church Hill.
32%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Church Hill | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 29% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 19% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 41% | 35% |
31 measures vs. Tennessee
5 better24 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Church Hill | TN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.8% | 13.3% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.8% | 9.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 8.2% |
Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center
In Kingsport · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
65th
percentile among TN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B
Church Hill’s grade for cost of living is a B
Home values rose 42% in five years, to about $261K, against 23% across Tennessee.
82% of Church Hill households own their home. Typical home values rose 5.7% in the year to September 2026.
$261KZillow home value
| Church Hill | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 65% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,019 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Church Hill$261K
Tennessee$331K
Market temperature
29
days on market
100%
sale-to-list price
+5.7%
value change, 1 year
11
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Church Hill
January nights average 27.4°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 85% of Tennessee places with climate records; July afternoons average 86.7°.
Church Hill has chilly winters and warm summers. About 5 inches of snow falls in a winter.
5″snow a winter
| Church Hill | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 87°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 27°F | 29°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–49°
Spring44–69°
Summer64–86°
Fall46–71°
Oct 29
typical first frost
Apr 9
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Church Hill
19pages on Church Hill
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 54% of TN districts · 4 schoolsSafetyA−1.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than TN on 5 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB$261K typical home · up 5.7% in a yearWork & commuteC+$66K median household income · 1,494 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 19% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Church Hill; the nearest are
Northeast State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Blountville17.1 mi$4,782 in-state tuitionEast Tennessee State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Johnson City24.5 mi$10,472 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Church Hill residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Tennessee.
About Church Hill
City in Tennessee, United States
Church Hill is a city in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 6,998 at the 2020 census and 6,737 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the "Tri-Cities" region. It is the largest municipality located entirely within Hawkins County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,217 ft
- ZIP code
- 37642
- Area code
- 423
Church Hill’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Church Hill.
Mount CarmelSurgoinsvilleChurch Hill
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church Hill | #51 | B− | B | A− | B− | C |
| Mount Carmel | #64 | C+ | A | — | B− | C |
| Surgoinsville | — | — | A− | — | B− | D− |
Surgoinsville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Mount Carmel and Surgoinsville report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Church Hill with a neighbor →
Questions about Church Hill
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Church Hill, TN a good place to live?
Church Hill grades B− overall, better than 47% of U.S. towns and #51 of 175 in Tennessee. It grades C for health, A− for safety and B− for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Church Hill, TN expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
What is Church Hill, TN known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Bob Cifers and Ed Cifers.