Signal Mountain, #1 on this list · Photo: Sam Poss · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tennessee rankings · 2026

Best small towns in Tennessee

Q: What is the best small town in Tennessee?

Among 107 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Signal Mountain (Hamilton County) ranks first, with an A; health (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (C−) is its lowest. Christiana and Tusculum follow.

Signal Mountain ranks first of Tennessee’s 107 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A: health (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (C−) is its lowest. 9 of the 107 (8%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.

The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work

Signal Mountain

Hamilton County · 8,824 people

Strongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

C⁻CostASafetyBSchoolsA⁺HealthA⁺JobsB⁻WalkBHazards

Christiana

unincorporated, Rutherford County · 4,777 people

Strongest: jobs & income A, schools A·lowest: walkability D⁻

B⁺Cost–SafetyASchoolsBHealthAJobsD⁻WalkBHazards

Tusculum

Greene County · 3,421 people

A⁻

Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living B⁻

B⁻Cost–SafetyBSchoolsA⁻HealthB⁺JobsA⁻WalkA⁺Hazards

Where they are: Two of the top 10 are in Hamilton County.

All 107 small towns

Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 175 Tennessee towns.

Find a town

107 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it

2Signal MountainHamilton County · 8,824 people67.9top 10.3%AStrongest: health A⁺, jobs & income A⁺·lowest: cost of living C⁻

3Christianaunincorporated, Rutherford County · 4,777 people67.8top 10.5%AStrongest: jobs & income A, schools A·lowest: walkability D⁻

7TusculumGreene County · 3,421 people65.3top 16.0%A⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, walkability A⁻·lowest: cost of living B⁻

8Green Hillunincorporated, Wilson County · 6,866 people65.1top 16.5%A⁻Strongest: schools A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

13Thompson's StationWilliamson County · 9,469 people63.0top 21.4%A⁻Strongest: schools A⁺, health A·lowest: walkability C⁻

14MedinaGibson County · 5,813 people62.9top 21.8%A⁻Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

15Park Cityunincorporated, Lincoln County · 2,813 people62.7top 22.1%A⁻Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: health D

17Pleasant ViewCheatham County · 5,797 people62.2top 23.3%A⁻Strongest: safety A, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: schools C⁺

19Harrisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 8,011 people61.7top 24.9%A⁻Strongest: jobs & income A, health B⁺·lowest: walkability D

23WestmorelandSumner County · 2,879 people60.0top 29.4%B⁺Strongest: safety A, schools A·lowest: health D

24Shackle Islandunincorporated, Sumner County · 4,404 people59.9top 29.8%B⁺Strongest: schools A, jobs & income B⁺·lowest: walkability D⁻

25Strawberry Plainsunincorporated, Jefferson County · 2,669 people59.7top 30.1%B⁺Strongest: cost of living A⁺, jobs & income A·lowest: walkability D⁻

29HendersonChester County · 6,590 people58.4top 33.4%B⁺Strongest: schools A, cost of living A·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

30Tellico Villageunincorporated, Loudon County · 7,414 people58.4top 33.4%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, schools A⁻·lowest: hazard risk D

32Apisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 4,271 people58.3top 33.8%B⁺Strongest: jobs & income A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D⁻

33JonesboroughWashington County · 6,990 people57.0top 37.3%BStrongest: hazard risk A, schools A⁻·lowest: cost of living C

34KingstonRoane County · 6,299 people56.5top 38.6%BStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: hazard risk C

35LoudonLoudon County · 6,963 people56.5top 38.7%BStrongest: schools A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health C⁻

36Colonial Heightsunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,258 people56.2top 39.7%BStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: hazard risk C

37Karnsunincorporated, Knox County · 4,115 people55.5top 41.3%BStrongest: jobs & income B⁺, schools B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

39Belle MeadeDavidson County · 2,621 people55.4top 41.5%BStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D

41ErwinUnicoi County · 6,019 people54.1top 45.2%B⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: health D

42South Clevelandunincorporated, Bradley County · 7,452 people53.8top 45.9%B⁻Strongest: schools A⁻, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health C⁻

43LouisvilleBlount County · 4,562 people53.7top 46.2%B⁻Strongest: cost of living B⁺, schools B⁺·lowest: walkability C⁻

44Hopewellunincorporated, Bradley County · 2,634 people53.5top 46.6%B⁻Strongest: schools A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D

45White BluffDickson County · 4,516 people52.6top 49.5%B⁻Strongest: schools B⁺, cost of living B⁺·lowest: health C⁻

49Mascotunincorporated, Knox County · 3,277 people51.8bottom 48.2%B⁻Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: walkability D⁻

50Eagleton Villageunincorporated, Blount County · 5,598 people51.6bottom 47.8%B⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁻, schools B⁺·lowest: health D

51Church HillHawkins County · 7,297 people51.4bottom 47.4%B⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, safety A⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

53Spurgeonunincorporated, Sullivan County · 4,071 people51.1bottom 46.7%B⁻Strongest: schools B, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: walkability C

54GreenbrierRobertson County · 7,170 people51.1bottom 46.6%B⁻Strongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: walkability D

56CentervilleHickman County · 3,589 people50.7bottom 45.6%B⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: health D

58Kingston SpringsCheatham County · 2,758 people50.7bottom 45.6%B⁻Strongest: jobs & income A, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D

59NewbernDyer County · 3,222 people50.6bottom 45.3%B⁻Strongest: cost of living A, schools A·lowest: hazard risk D

60DresdenWeakley County · 2,911 people50.4bottom 44.8%C⁺Strongest: cost of living A, schools B⁺·lowest: health D

61HuntingdonCarroll County · 4,462 people50.4bottom 44.6%C⁺Strongest: schools A⁻, safety B⁺·lowest: health C⁻

62Oak Groveunincorporated, Washington County · 4,626 people50.1bottom 43.8%C⁺Strongest: schools A⁻, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: walkability D

63White PineJefferson County · 2,619 people49.9bottom 43.3%C⁺Strongest: cost of living B⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: health D

64Mount CarmelHawkins County · 5,540 people49.8bottom 43.2%C⁺Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: walkability D

68CoopertownRobertson County · 4,843 people49.0bottom 40.8%C⁺Strongest: jobs & income A, health B·lowest: walkability D

70MillersvilleSumner County · 6,438 people48.8bottom 40.3%C⁺Strongest: schools A, safety B·lowest: walkability C⁻

72McKenzieCarroll County · 5,632 people48.1bottom 38.3%C⁺Strongest: walkability A, schools B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

73JasperMarion County · 3,636 people48.0bottom 37.9%C⁺Strongest: cost of living A, safety B·lowest: walkability C⁻

74Oak HillDavidson County · 4,581 people47.6bottom 36.8%C⁺Strongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: schools D

77Coalfieldunincorporated, Morgan County · 2,754 people46.8bottom 34.9%CStrongest: cost of living A⁺, jobs & income A⁻·lowest: walkability D⁻

78Sale Creekunincorporated, Hamilton County · 2,955 people46.7bottom 34.7%CStrongest: cost of living B, schools B·lowest: walkability D⁻

79Wildwood Lakeunincorporated, Bradley County · 3,495 people46.3bottom 33.7%CStrongest: schools A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D⁻

80Jefferson CityJefferson County · 9,103 people46.1bottom 33.0%CStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C

81South PittsburgMarion County · 2,927 people46.1bottom 33.0%CStrongest: cost of living A⁺, safety B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

83DandridgeJefferson County · 3,947 people45.2bottom 30.7%CStrongest: hazard risk B⁺, walkability B⁺·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

84MunfordTipton County · 6,996 people45.1bottom 30.6%CStrongest: schools B⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

85Bean StationGrainger County · 3,190 people44.9bottom 29.9%CStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

88Fairfield Gladeunincorporated, Cumberland County · 9,487 people44.5bottom 28.8%CStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, jobs & income B⁻·lowest: walkability C

89Blountvilleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,309 people44.4bottom 28.8%CStrongest: hazard risk A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: health D

90EtowahMcMinn County · 3,786 people44.0bottom 27.8%CStrongest: safety B⁺, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: jobs & income D

91LafayetteMacon County · 6,020 people43.8bottom 27.4%CStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

92LivingstonOverton County · 4,147 people43.7bottom 27.1%CStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: health D⁻

93Ashland CityCheatham County · 5,650 people43.7bottom 27.1%CStrongest: jobs & income A⁻, cost of living B⁻·lowest: health C⁻

95Forest HillsDavidson County · 4,473 people43.4bottom 26.4%CStrongest: jobs & income A⁺, health A⁺·lowest: cost of living D⁻

96CamdenBenton County · 3,690 people43.4bottom 26.4%CStrongest: cost of living A⁻, safety B·lowest: health D

97WoodburyCannon County · 2,828 people43.3bottom 26.1%CStrongest: cost of living A, safety B⁺·lowest: health D

100BrightonTipton County · 2,892 people43.0bottom 25.4%CStrongest: schools B⁺, cost of living B·lowest: health C⁻

103Oliver SpringsAnderson County · 3,433 people41.7bottom 22.7%C⁻Strongest: cost of living A, safety C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

105AlgoodPutnam County · 4,165 people41.6bottom 22.5%C⁻Strongest: schools B, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: walkability C⁻

106DaytonRhea County · 7,819 people41.6bottom 22.5%C⁻Strongest: schools B, walkability B⁻·lowest: health D

110Bloomingdaleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 9,292 people40.7bottom 20.5%C⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health D

111PipertonFayette County · 2,889 people40.5bottom 20.1%C⁻Strongest: jobs & income A, health B⁻·lowest: schools D

113Estill SpringsFranklin County · 2,692 people40.5bottom 20.0%C⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁻, safety B⁻·lowest: schools C⁻

115MosheimGreene County · 2,547 people40.0bottom 19.1%C⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁺, cost of living A⁻·lowest: health D⁻

116TrentonGibson County · 4,137 people39.8bottom 18.7%C⁻Strongest: cost of living A, schools B⁻·lowest: health D

117MontereyPutnam County · 2,827 people39.8bottom 18.7%C⁻Strongest: cost of living B⁺, schools B·lowest: health D⁻

118UnicoiUnicoi County · 3,861 people39.5bottom 18.1%C⁻Strongest: safety B⁺, schools B⁻·lowest: health D

119New TazewellClaiborne County · 2,846 people39.4bottom 17.9%C⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

120HarrimanRoane County · 6,192 people39.3bottom 17.8%C⁻Strongest: cost of living A⁻, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

121RockwoodRoane County · 5,607 people39.2bottom 17.4%C⁻Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: health D

122NewportCocke County · 7,049 people39.0bottom 17.0%C⁻Strongest: schools A, walkability B⁺·lowest: health D⁻

125Lake Tansiunincorporated, Cumberland County · 4,437 people38.7bottom 16.3%C⁻Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: health D

127LexingtonHenderson County · 8,130 people38.5bottom 16.0%C⁻Strongest: schools A⁻, cost of living B⁺·lowest: health D

128DunlapSequatchie County · 6,089 people38.4bottom 16.0%C⁻Strongest: cost of living B⁺, safety B·lowest: health D⁻

129RogersvilleHawkins County · 4,690 people38.0bottom 15.2%C⁻Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A⁻·lowest: health D

131LynchburgMoore County · 6,920 people37.2bottom 13.9%DStrongest: schools B, cost of living B⁻·lowest: walkability D

132HohenwaldLewis County · 4,151 people37.1bottom 13.6%DStrongest: cost of living A⁻, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D

133SelmerMcNairy County · 4,575 people36.6bottom 13.0%DStrongest: cost of living A, schools B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

134SpartaWhite County · 5,038 people36.4bottom 12.6%DStrongest: schools A⁻, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

135GatlinburgSevier County · 3,715 people36.3bottom 12.4%DStrongest: walkability A⁻, hazard risk A⁻·lowest: safety D

138HarrogateClaiborne County · 4,454 people35.1bottom 10.7%DStrongest: walkability B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income C⁻

139WaverlyHumphreys County · 4,430 people34.5bottom 10.0%DStrongest: walkability B⁺, safety B·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

140SweetwaterMonroe County · 6,706 people34.2bottom 9.7%DStrongest: cost of living B⁺, hazard risk B·lowest: health D

141MilanGibson County · 8,367 people34.1bottom 9.6%DStrongest: schools B⁺, cost of living B·lowest: health D

143PulaskiGiles County · 8,394 people34.0bottom 9.5%DStrongest: cost of living B⁺, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D

146FayettevilleLincoln County · 7,068 people33.5bottom 8.8%DStrongest: schools B, hazard risk B·lowest: health D

148Mount PleasantMaury County · 5,103 people33.1bottom 8.2%DStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁻·lowest: health D

151WhitevilleHardeman County · 4,482 people32.4bottom 7.4%DStrongest: safety A⁻, cost of living B⁻·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

152La FolletteCampbell County · 7,176 people32.3bottom 7.2%DStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

153MaynardvilleUnion County · 2,723 people31.7bottom 6.6%DStrongest: cost of living A⁻, hazard risk B⁺·lowest: schools D

155CovingtonTipton County · 8,585 people30.9bottom 5.8%DStrongest: schools B⁺, cost of living B·lowest: health D⁻

157SmithvilleDeKalb County · 5,620 people29.8bottom 4.6%D⁻Strongest: hazard risk B⁺, walkability B⁻·lowest: health D⁻

159Pigeon ForgeSevier County · 6,598 people28.6bottom 3.8%D⁻Strongest: hazard risk B⁻, walkability B⁻·lowest: safety D⁻

160HumboldtGibson County · 7,841 people28.2bottom 3.5%D⁻Strongest: cost of living A, jobs & income C⁻·lowest: schools D⁻

161MadisonvilleMonroe County · 5,428 people28.1bottom 3.4%D⁻Strongest: walkability B⁺, cost of living B⁻·lowest: health D

164SomervilleFayette County · 3,622 people26.6bottom 2.4%D⁻Strongest: cost of living B⁻, jobs & income C·lowest: health D⁻

165OneidaScott County · 3,899 people26.4bottom 2.3%D⁻Strongest: hazard risk A⁻, walkability C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

169SavannahHardin County · 7,689 people23.5bottom 1.1%D⁻Strongest: cost of living B⁻, hazard risk C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

171TiptonvilleLake County · 3,333 people19.5bottom 0.4%D⁻Strongest: safety B⁻, cost of living C·lowest: jobs & income D⁻

173BrownsvilleHaywood County · 9,301 people16.5bottom 0.1%D⁻Strongest: walkability B⁻, cost of living C⁺·lowest: health D⁻

174BolivarHardeman County · 5,043 people15.7bottom 0.1%D⁻Strongest: walkability C⁺, cost of living C⁺·lowest: safety D⁻

175RipleyLauderdale County · 7,499 people12.6bottom 0.1%D⁻Strongest: cost of living C⁺, walkability C⁻·lowest: health D⁻

Method

How this list is made

Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Tennessee. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.

Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work

Left off: college campuses

Places where more than half the residents are college students (ACS) are graded like every town but kept off this list, since its figures mostly describe student life.

C⁺Sewanee 68% college students

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the best small town in Tennessee?

Among 107 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Signal Mountain (Hamilton County) ranks first, with an A; health (A+) and jobs & income (A+) are its strongest grades; cost of living (C−) is its lowest. Christiana and Tusculum follow.

How are these towns ranked?

By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Tennessee. The full method is on How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (107 in Tennessee). 115 smaller places have subject grades only; 1 town of 2,500+ lack enough data for a grade; 1 college campus (Sewanee) is left off. Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Tennessee page.

Go deeper

More Tennessee lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Tennessee rankings →

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