Best counties to live in Tennessee

What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it’s a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Tennessee using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Lincoln County

– Population: 33,924
– Median home value: $135,700 (75% own)
– Median rent: $685 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $49,485
– Top public schools: Highland Rim School (B+), South Lincoln School (B+), Fayetteville High School (B+)
– Top private schools: Riverside Christian Academy (A)
– Top places to live: Park City (B), Fayetteville (B), Petersburg (C+)

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#24. Maury County

– Population: 91,976
– Median home value: $184,800 (70% own)
– Median rent: $895 (30% rent)
– Median household income: $57,170
– Top public schools: Columbia Central High School (B), Spring Hill Middle School (B), Marvin Wright Elementary School (B)
– Top private schools: Columbia Academy (B+), Zion Christian Academy (B+), Agathos School of Columbia (A)
– Top places to live: Spring Hill (A), Columbia (B), Mount Pleasant (B)

AppalachianCentrist // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Hamblen County

– Population: 64,132
– Median home value: $137,900 (67% own)
– Median rent: $735 (33% rent)
– Median household income: $43,619
– Top public schools: Morristown West High School (A), Alpha Elementary School (A), Witt Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Lakeway Christian School (B+), Cornerstone Academy/Lakeway Christian Academy (B+), All Saints’ Episcopal School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Morristown (B)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Blount County

– Population: 129,927
– Median home value: $182,100 (75% own)
– Median rent: $788 (25% rent)
– Median household income: $56,667
– Top public schools: Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School (A), Sam Houston Elementary School (A), Coulter Grove Intermediate School (A)
– Top private schools: Clayton-Bradley Academy (A), Maryville Christian School (B), Apostolic Christian Academy (B)
– Top places to live: Maryville (A), Alcoa (A), Louisville (B+)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Gibson County

– Population: 49,228
– Median home value: $98,600 (68% own)
– Median rent: $680 (32% rent)
– Median household income: $43,171
– Top public schools: Medina Middle School (A), Medina Elementary School (A), Rutherford Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: Milan Christian Academy (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Medina (A), Milan (B), Dyer (B)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Coffee County

– Population: 55,209
– Median home value: $141,900 (68% own)
– Median rent: $737 (32% rent)
– Median household income: $50,351
– Top public schools: New Union Elementary School (A), Tullahoma High School (B+), Robert E. Lee Elementary School (B+)
– Top private schools: St. Paul the Apostle School (unavailable), Temple Baptist Christian School (unavailable), Tullahoma Christian Academy (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Manchester (B+), Tullahoma (B), New Union (B)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Chester County

– Population: 17,190
– Median home value: $121,900 (77% own)
– Median rent: $682 (23% rent)
– Median household income: $51,946
– Top public schools: East Chester Elementary School (A), Jacks Creek Elementary School (A), Chester County Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: Tennessee Children’s Home – West Campus (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Henderson (B+)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Anderson County

– Population: 76,061
– Median home value: $146,200 (68% own)
– Median rent: $750 (32% rent)
– Median household income: $50,392
– Top public schools: Oak Ridge High School (A), Woodland Elementary School (A), Jefferson Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: Faith Christian School (B), St. Mary’s School (unavailable), Christian Academy of Oak Ridge (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Oak Ridge (A), Norris (B), Clinton (B)

GamblinMonkey // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Dyer County

– Population: 37,416
– Median home value: $103,800 (62% own)
– Median rent: $680 (38% rent)
– Median household income: $44,185
– Top public schools: Dyersburg Middle School (A), Holice Powell Elementary School (A), Three Oaks Middle School (A)
– Top private schools: Christ Classical Academy (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Dyersburg (B), Newbern (B), Trimble (B)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Weakley County

– Population: 33,510
– Median home value: $97,800 (65% own)
– Median rent: $626 (35% rent)
– Median household income: $39,937
– Top public schools: Martin Elementary School (A), Greenfield School (B), Dresden Middle School (B)
– Top private schools: Liberty Christian Academy (B+)
– Top places to live: Martin (B+), Sharon (B), Gleason (B)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Bradley County

– Population: 105,749
– Median home value: $161,000 (66% own)
– Median rent: $777 (34% rent)
– Median household income: $51,331
– Top public schools: Michigan Avenue Elementary School (A), North Lee Elementary School (A), Walker Valley High School (A)
– Top private schools: Cleveland Christian School (B), Tennessee Christian Preparatory School (B), First Baptist Weekday Ministry (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Hopewell (B+), Cleveland (B+), Wildwood Lake (B)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Sullivan County

– Population: 157,050
– Median home value: $141,300 (72% own)
– Median rent: $668 (28% rent)
– Median household income: $46,684
– Top public schools: Dobyns-Bennett High School (A), Andrew Johnson Elementary School (A), John Adams Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Tri-Cities Christian School (B+), Tennessee Avenue Christian Academy (B), Cedar View Christian School (B)
– Top places to live: Kingsport (A), Colonial Heights (B+), Bristol (B+)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Putnam County

– Population: 77,447
– Median home value: $159,600 (61% own)
– Median rent: $715 (39% rent)
– Median household income: $44,259
– Top public schools: Capshaw Elementary School (A), Prescott South Elementary School (A), Northeast Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Highland Rim Academy (A), Heritage Academy (B+), Heavenly Host Lutheran School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Cookeville (B+), Algood (B), Baxter (C+)

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#12. Madison County

– Population: 97,625
– Median home value: $131,500 (62% own)
– Median rent: $877 (38% rent)
– Median household income: $48,161
– Top public schools: Madison Academic Magnet High School (A), Community Montessori School (B), South Side High School (B)
– Top private schools: University School of Jackson (A+), Sacred Heart of Jesus High School (A), Trinity Christian Academy (B+)
– Top places to live: Three Way (B), Jackson (B), Medon (B)

Scott Basford // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Loudon County

– Population: 52,340
– Median home value: $222,500 (78% own)
– Median rent: $802 (22% rent)
– Median household income: $58,065
– Top public schools: North Middle School (A), Eaton Elementary School (A), Highland Park Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Crossroads Christian Academy (B)
– Top places to live: Tellico Village (B), Loudon (B), Lenoir City (B)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Sumner County

– Population: 183,437
– Median home value: $234,200 (74% own)
– Median rent: $1,026 (26% rent)
– Median household income: $67,204
– Top public schools: Merrol Hyde Magnet School (A+), T.W. Hunter Middle School (A), Dr. William Burrus Elementary at Drakes Creek (A)
– Top private schools: Pope John Paul II High School (A+), Highland Academy (B+), Hendersonville Christian Academy (B)
– Top places to live: Hendersonville (A), Shackle Island (B+), Gallatin (B+)

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#9. Shelby County

– Population: 936,374
– Median home value: $150,400 (55% own)
– Median rent: $942 (45% rent)
– Median household income: $51,657
– Top public schools: Tara Oaks Elementary School (A+), Sycamore Elementary School (A+), Collierville High School (A+)
– Top private schools: St. Mary’s Episcopal School (A+), Lausanne Collegiate School (A+), Memphis University School (A+)
– Top places to live: Germantown (A+), Collierville (A), Lakeland (A)

Ichabod // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Wilson County

– Population: 136,666
– Median home value: $264,600 (77% own)
– Median rent: $1,065 (23% rent)
– Median household income: $75,991
– Top public schools: Rutland Elementary School (A), Springdale Elementary School (A), Lakeview Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Friendship Christian School (A), Mt. Juliet Christian Academy (B+), McClain Christian Academy Preschool (B+)
– Top places to live: Mount Juliet (A), Green Hill (A), Lebanon (B+)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Washington County

– Population: 127,805
– Median home value: $163,000 (64% own)
– Median rent: $757 (36% rent)
– Median household income: $48,334
– Top public schools: Fairmont Elementary School (A), Science Hill High School (A), Woodland Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Providence Academy (A), St. Mary School (unavailable), Central Baptist Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Johnson City (A), Jonesborough (B+), Oak Grove (B)

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#6. Montgomery County

– Population: 200,180
– Median home value: $165,800 (60% own)
– Median rent: $971 (40% rent)
– Median household income: $57,541
– Top public schools: Rossview Elementary School (A), St. Bethlehem Elementary School (A), Sango Elementary School (A)
– Top private schools: Clarksville Academy (A), Clarksville Christian School (B+), Immaculate Conception School (unavailable)
– Top places to live: Clarksville (A)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Hamilton County

– Population: 360,919
– Median home value: $180,900 (64% own)
– Median rent: $868 (36% rent)
– Median household income: $55,070
– Top public schools: Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (A), Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences (CSAS) – Upper School (A), STEM School Chattanooga (A)
– Top private schools: McCallie School (A+), Baylor School (A+), Girls Preparatory School (A)
– Top places to live: Lookout Mountain (A), Signal Mountain (A), Collegedale (A)

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#4. Rutherford County

– Population: 315,815
– Median home value: $213,200 (65% own)
– Median rent: $1,063 (35% rent)
– Median household income: $67,429
– Top public schools: Central Magnet School (A+), Thurman Francis Arts Academy (A), McFadden School of Excellence (A)
– Top private schools: Providence Christian Academy (A), Lancaster Christian Academy (B+), Franklin Road Christian School (B+)
– Top places to live: Murfreesboro (A), Smyrna (A), La Vergne (B+)

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#3. Davidson County

– Population: 687,488
– Median home value: $241,700 (54% own)
– Median rent: $1,102 (46% rent)
– Median household income: $60,388
– Top public schools: Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School (A+), Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School (A+), Meigs Academic Magnet (A)
– Top private schools: University School of Nashville (A+), Montgomery Bell Academy (A+), Harpeth Hall School (A+)
– Top places to live: Elliston Place (A+), Hope Gardens (A+), Music Row (A+)

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#2. Knox County

– Population: 461,104
– Median home value: $183,200 (64% own)
– Median rent: $892 (36% rent)
– Median household income: $57,470
– Top public schools: Farragut High School (A+), L&N STEM Academy (A), Hardin Valley Academy (A)
– Top private schools: Webb School of Knoxville (A+), Knoxville Catholic High School (A), Christian Academy of Knoxville (A)
– Top places to live: Farragut (A+), Knoxville (A), Mascot (B)

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#1. Williamson County

– Population: 225,389
– Median home value: $449,000 (81% own)
– Median rent: $1,500 (19% rent)
– Median household income: $112,962
– Top public schools: Brentwood High School (A+), Ravenwood High School (A+), Kenrose Elementary School (A+)
– Top private schools: Battle Ground Academy (A+), Brentwood Academy (A+), Franklin Classical School (A)
– Top places to live: Brentwood (A+), Franklin (A+), Nolensville (A+)