Sixteen Tunnel · National Register of Historic Places
Sunbright’s story
146 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2008.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1880Sunbright is settled
SunbrightTN
A town of 549, settled in 1880.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
549
2025 Census estimate · +5.6% since 2020
Typical home
$202K
+5.7% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
40.5
years
Jobs based here
280
Balanced
Is Sunbright a good place to live?
Sunbright’s mean commuting time is 41 minutes, above both the Tennessee town median (25 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 178 Tennessee towns, just one has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Sunbright. Sixteen Tunnel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Sunbright has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
549 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Sunbright: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sunbright, and how to reach them.
PowerPlateau Electric Cooperative14.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Sunbright’s trash rules yet
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 hereMorgan County Election CommissionMorgan County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code3787237872 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 Sunbright.
Housing
The typical home in Sunbright: about $202K
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 5.7% in value. The rent at the middle of the market for Sunbright comes to $765 a month, against $947 a month in Tennessee’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. Among households locally, 79% own their home.
$202KZillow home value
| Sunbright | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 79% | 66% | 73% |
| Median rent | $765 a month | $947 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Sunbright$202K
Tennessee$331K
+5.7%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Schools
The schools Sunbright’s kids attend
The largest public high school is Sunbright School, with 464 students. The Morgan County school district runs its public schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbright SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 464 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Expect mild winters and pleasant summers in Sunbright
The range runs from 26° on a January night to 85° on a July afternoon, with about 5 inches of snow a winter.
5″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–48°
Spring44–67°
Summer62–84°
Fall45–69°
Oct 17
typical first frost
Apr 21
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
With 1.5 jobs for every working resident, Sunbright draws in 275 commuters
For residents in Sunbright, the share who live below the poverty line is 15%. Just 3% of the town’s working residents have a job in town. The top destinations are Oak Ridge (12%), Knoxville (8%) and Wartburg (6%). The town’s typical household income stands at $59,000.
3%work in town
| Sunbright | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 2.6% | 12% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $61,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Sunbright3%
Oak Ridge12%
Knoxville8%
Wartburg6%
Harriman6%
29 mi
median commute distance
280
jobs based in Sunbright
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
More of Sunbright’s adults report frequent physical distress than in the typical Tennessee or U.S. town
Only 3 of the 177 Tennessee towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Sunbright. In Sunbright, nearly a third of adults say their health is fair or poor.
| Sunbright | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 19% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 16% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 29% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 17% |
31 measures vs. Tennessee
0 better12 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Sunbright | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 26.2% | 14.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.6% | 8.6% |
| More smokers | 26.4% | 17.3% |
Big South Fork Medical Center
20.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Sunbright is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
One claim on flood insurance has been paid out in Sunbright since 2018. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 59% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Sunbright after 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2019.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 2018
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 31 attractions →Frozen Head State Park and 11 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sunbright. Close and well known come first.
13 mi State parkFrozen Head State Park
7 mi National RiverBig South Fork National River and Recreation Area774K visitors a year
26 mi National Historical ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park56K visitors a year
34 mi MuseumMuseum of Appalachia
29 mi MuseumAmerican Museum of Science and Energy
9 mi National park siteObed Wild and Scenic River260K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Frozen Head State Park: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0 · Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 · Manhattan Project National Historical Park: Unknown, Public domain · Museum of Appalachia: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0 · American Museum of Science and Energy: Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0 · Obed Wild and Scenic River: ChristopherM at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Sunbright
17pages on Sunbright
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Sunbright; the nearest are
Roane State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Harriman25.2 mi$4,998 in-state tuitionTennessee Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Cookeville46.2 mi$11,376 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Sunbright residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Tennessee.
About Sunbright
City in Tennessee, United States
Sunbright is a city in Morgan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 519 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,312 ft
- ZIP code
- 37872
- Area code
- 423
Questions about Sunbright
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Sunbright, TN a good place to live?
Sunbright has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.