Unicoi, 2007
Unicoi’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,519 in 2000, 3,833 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 3 maps from 1935 on.
- 1890Unicoi is settled
UnicoiTN
A town of 3,861, settled in 1890.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
Population
3,861
2025 Census estimate · +1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$274K
+0% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
49.7
years
Jobs based here
660
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#118 of 175 in TN
Is Unicoi a good place to live?
Unicoi grades C− overall, 118th among Tennessee's 175 graded towns, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. On the other side, CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 91% of the country. It also does better than most on safety: it reports less crime per resident than 72% of U.S. towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in incomes: the median household income is $42K, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. A typical home there costs about $274K, 4.7 years of the Johnson City metro’s $58K median household income. 31% of the land in Unicoi is conserved, above both the Tennessee town median (1.7%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest place to walk is Cherokee National Forest, 3,179 acres with 11.2 miles of trail. Among 134 Tennessee towns, just 3 have a lower level of violent crime than Unicoi.
What makes Unicoi stand out
Where Unicoi beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Unicoi0.3
Tennessee5
U.S.3.3
SafetyB+
94% less violent crime than TN
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
31 measures vs. Tennessee
0 better24 too close to call7 worse
| Widest gap | Unicoi | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.6% | 8.6% |
Worth knowing · HealthD
Trails TN on 7 of 31 CDC measures, beats it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Unicoi for work
Where Unicoi’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
660jobs based in Unicoi
5%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Unicoi grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Tennessee), ordered by how far Unicoi is from typical.
HealthJohnson City Medical Center 6.8 miles awayDOpen →Jobs & income660 jobs based hereC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.4 of 20; 2% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SafetyB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →SchoolsB−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 45% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Unicoi: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Unicoi, and how to reach them.
PowerMountain Electric Coop13.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterUnicoi Utility DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Unicoi’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 hereUnicoi County Election CommissionUnicoi County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes37692, 3760137692 91% · 37601 9%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 Unicoi.
Unicoi fares better on crime within Tennessee than nationally, keeps more of its land conserved than most of Tennessee and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.
OutdoorsB−
Protected land: nearly a third of Unicoi
Its 3,155 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 99% of Tennessee towns.
The concentration of trails for Unicoi comes to 0.7 miles per square mile, above both Tennessee’s towns (0.2) and U.S. towns (0.4). Walkers can cover 12 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
#12for trails in TN
30.6%
conserved · 3,155 of 10,310 acres
12 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cherokee National Forest | 11.2 mi | 3,179 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
Public schools in Unicoi beat 54% of Tennessee districts
The public schools here belong to the Unicoi County school district. Its one school is below. The town’s only public school teaches 330 students.
54%of TN districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unicoi ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 330 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TN on state tests and graduation
HealthD
For health, Unicoi earns a D
Against the 3,166 U.S. towns with household incomes like Unicoi’s, it is less healthy than 60%, so that grade isn’t only a matter of income. Within Tennessee it is less healthy than 69% of the 176 graded towns: much of Tennessee scores lower on these measures.
30% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Unicoi. In Unicoi, 44% of adults have high blood pressure, and 16% have diabetes.
9%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Unicoi | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 41% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 12% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 29% | 23% |
31 measures vs. Tennessee
0 better24 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Unicoi | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.6% | 8.6% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.2% | 7% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.6% | 3.7% |
Johnson City Medical Center
6.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental
31st
percentile among TN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
Most of Unicoi’s workers commute out: the town has 0.5 jobs for each of them
Commuting out is the norm in Unicoi: 5% of working residents work locally. Its average trip to work is 29 minutes. The top destinations are Johnson City (30%), Erwin (12%) and Kingsport (8%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 11 miles.
5%work in town
| Unicoi | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,000 | $61,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.3% | 12% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Unicoi5%
Johnson City30%
Erwin12%
Kingsport8%
Elizabethton4%
11 mi
median commute distance
660
jobs based in Unicoi
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 28% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB+
For safety, Unicoi earns a B+
At 10.7 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 90% of Tennessee’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
Unicoi’s rate of thefts and burglaries stands at 11.2 per 1,000 residents.
72%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Unicoi0.3
Tennessee5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Unicoi11.2
Tennessee16.6
U.S.15.5
72nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
90th
percentile among TN towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
43
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Unicoi
January nights average 26.4°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 94% of Tennessee places with climate records; July afternoons average 84.8°.
Its typical July afternoon high comes in at 85°F. Among 177 Tennessee towns, just 5 have a lower January low than Unicoi. About 9 inches of snow falls in a winter.
9″snow a winter
| Unicoi | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 85°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 26°F | 29°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–49°
Spring43–68°
Summer61–84°
Fall44–69°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 21
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer children than Tennessee overall
Children under 18 are 15% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 22% of residents (17% statewide). In Unicoi, the age of the median resident is 49.7 years. College graduates make up a quarter of adults 25 and older, against 31% across Tennessee.
49.7median age · TN 38.9
| Unicoi | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 years | 40 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 15% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 25% | 23% | 29% |
UnicoiTennesseeUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school30%
Some college29%
Associate’s6%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.7 points. Across Tennessee, 50.9% of residents are women.
| Unicoi | TN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 4.2% | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.4% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.6% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.9% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.7% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.6% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.5% | 6.7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.1% | 10% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.5% | 31.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.5% | 19.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16% | 19.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.9% | 11.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,900, single groups can be off by several points
HousingCost of living grade C
For cost of living, Unicoi earns a C
64.5% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 48.8% across Tennessee.
In Unicoi, 58% of households own their home. A typical home in the town is worth about $274,000, about the same as a year ago, 17% below the Tennessee typical home. The typical rent for Unicoi comes to $920 a month.
$274KZillow home value
| Unicoi | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 66% | 73% |
| Median rent | $920 a month | $950 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Unicoi$274K
Tennessee$331K
+0%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
The biggest natural risk in Unicoi is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
FEMA puts 62% of Unicoi’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 17% to cold waves. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 55% of U.S. communities. Since 2018, Unicoi has seen 4 flood insurance claims paid out.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesStrong wind
4
paid flood claims since 2018
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Unicoi
19pages on Unicoi
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 54% of TN districts · 1 schoolSafetyB+0.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than TN on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC$274K typical home · up 0% in a yearWork & commuteC−$42K median household income · 660 jobs hereNatural hazardsB−FEMA risk higher than 45% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Unicoi
Milligan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Milligan5.8 mi$40,450 tuitionEast Tennessee State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Johnson City5.9 mi$10,472 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Unicoi residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Tennessee.
About Unicoi
Town in Tennessee, United States
Unicoi is a town in Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,833 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1994
- Area
- 16 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,923 ft
- ZIP code
- 37692
- Area code
- 423
Questions about Unicoi
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Unicoi, TN a good place to live?
Unicoi grades C− overall, better than 18% of U.S. towns and #118 of 175 in Tennessee. It grades D for health, B+ for safety and B− for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Unicoi, 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 C.