DeKalb County
TN · Pop. 20,551 · Suburban County
DeKalb County is a suburban county in Tennessee, spanning 304 square miles with 20,551 residents at a density of 67.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, soybeans, corn. A median home price of $207,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.36% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 183-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.1°F and average winter lows of 26.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 54.1 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Saint Thomas Dekalb Hospital, Llc is 1.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.36% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Saint Thomas Dekalb Hospital, Llc, with an emergency room, is just 1.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- A poverty rate of 21.4% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
DeKalb County, TN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 95/100
- Median home price
- $207k
- Property tax
- 0.36%
- Growing season
- 183 days (zone 7b)
- Annual rainfall
- 54.1"
- Broadband
- 99.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Saint Thomas Dekalb Hospital, Llc, 1.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in DeKalb County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in DeKalb County?
- DeKalb County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 183-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.1°F, and average winter lows of 26.7°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $207,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.36%. Per-acre raw-land prices vary widely by parcel here, so check active listings for current rates.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Saint Thomas Dekalb Hospital, Llc is 1.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Tennessee Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Tennessee
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The closest counties to DeKalb County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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