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Hawkins County, TN

RANK #156 / 996  ·  POP 57,107  ·  TN

PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.4%

Hawkins County ranks among the top U.S. counties across nearly every economic indicator.

[01] Why Hawkins County?

Hawkins County, Tennessee, stands out for its rich history, particularly in Rogersville, the county seat and the state's second-oldest town. Its downtown area, along with many adjacent neighborhoods, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county, located in northeast Tennessee near the Virginia border, is bisected by the Holston River, offering diverse landscapes from farmlands to Appalachian mountain ranges. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, including kayaking on Cherokee Lake and hiking trails at Laurel Run Park, which features waterfalls and river frontage. Commuting to nearby cities like Kingsport or Johnson City is common, with average commute times around 27.7 minutes.

Life in Hawkins County offers a community-focused atmosphere, attracting families and retirees. The Hawkins County School District serves over 6,000 students across 18 schools, with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. The local economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in manufacturing, including automotive bearing parts and polysilicon production for solar panels and semiconductors. Existing companies are also expanding, contributing to job creation in the area.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.6x

Below national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+6.5%

Well above national median

Home Prices
+2.5%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
1.2

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
17x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.6x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Hawkins County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
57,107
+0.54% YoY
Median Household Income
$53,647
Median Home Value
$153,800
+2.5% 12mo
Median Rent
$737
Average Annual Pay
$55,373
+6.2% YoY
Employment
12,055
+0.2% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3488
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.39%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$275,000
Days on Market
103
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.4
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.3%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
25.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
29.7%
Building Permits (2024)
153
Single-Family Permits
151

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,000M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Polysilicon Manufacturing Facility (Project Rocks)
Highland Materials
$900M Planned
Phipps Bend Industrial Park Site Preparation (Lot 17)
Hawkins County Industrial Development Board / Mattern & Craig
$50M Under Construction
Battery Storage System
Tenaska
$50M Proposed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +6.5% 93 percentile
Population Growth +0.5% 54 percentile
Income Growth +9.3% 68 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.6% 20 percentile
Home Price Change +2.5% 65 percentile
Price/Rent 17x 18 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hawkins County, TN a good place to move to?

Hawkins County has a Boom Town Index score of 84/100, ranking #156 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $53,647, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Hawkins County affordable?

The median home value in Hawkins County is $153,800 with median rent at $737/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3488, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Hawkins County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed +2.5% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Hawkins County?

Yes — 4.39% of Hawkins County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Broome County, NY 94 Tuscola County, MI 94 Capitol Planning Region, CT 94 Lee County, MS 94 Scioto County, OH 94 LaSalle County, IL 94 Grundy County, IL 94 Elmore County, AL 94