Johnson County
TN · Pop. 18,073 · Suburban County
Johnson County, Tennessee covers 298 square miles with a population of 18,073 and a density of 60.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, haylage. The median home price is $176,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.38%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 159-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.5°F and average winter lows of 23.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 46.3 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Johnson County Community Hospital is 3.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.38% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $176,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 93.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Johnson County Community Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- A 159-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- A poverty rate of 22.1% 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
Johnson County, TN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 89/100
- Median home price
- $176k
- Property tax
- 0.38%
- Growing season
- 159 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 46.3"
- Broadband
- 93.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Johnson County Community Hospital, 3.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Johnson County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Johnson County?
- Johnson County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 159-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.5°F, and average winter lows of 23.3°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $176,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.38%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 93.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Johnson County Community Hospital is 3.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Tennessee
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The closest counties to Johnson 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.