Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
27% of residents live below the poverty line in Gainesboro, where Tennessee’s towns sit at 14% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. 30% of the land in Gainesboro is conserved, where Tennessee’s towns sit at 1.8% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Gainesboro has 4 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Fort Blount-Williamsburg Site and Jackson County High School. Gainesboro has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Gainesboro beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 352 in 1880, 920 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2009 and 3 maps from 1925 on.
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Gainesboro, 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 Gainesboro.
Most working residents leave Gainesboro for work: only 8% work in town. Since 2013, Gainesboro has lost 157 jobs, to 764 in 2023. Gainesboro’s median household income is $52,000.
| Gainesboro | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $52,000 | $61,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.7% | 12% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Jackson County school district. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesboro ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–3 | Grades PK–3 | 345 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts
0.5 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Roaring River Recreational Area, at 77 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Roaring River Recreational Area | 0.5 mi | 77 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
The typical Gainesboro home is worth about $205,000, up 0.9% in a year, 38% below the Tennessee typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 71% of U.S. communities. Since 1982, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Gainesboro.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Gainesboro has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Gainesboro is 89°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
3 crimes were reported in Gainesboro in 2025: 2 property and 1 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Gainesboro is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Gainesboro beats the Tennessee average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 10. 32% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Gainesboro.
| Gainesboro | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 29% | 23% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 19% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 17% |
| What stands out | Gainesboro | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 22.2% | 14.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.5% | 8.6% |
| More smokers | 22.1% | 17.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Gainesboro; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Gainesboro residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Tennessee.
Where Gainesboro’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
7 notable people were born in Gainesboro.
Town in Tennessee, United States
Gainesboro () is a town in and the county seat of Jackson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 920 at the 2020 census. Gainesboro is part of the Cookeville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Gainesboro has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
7 notable people were born here, including Mounce Gore Butler and Alvan Cullem Gillem.
