Scott County
TN · Pop. 21,969 · Suburban County
Scott County, Tennessee covers 532 square miles with a population of 21,969 and a density of 41.3 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $117,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.53% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.2°F and average winter lows of 25.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 53.9 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Big South Fork Medical Center is 5.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.53% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $117,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Big South Fork Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 5.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- Annual rainfall of 53.9 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A poverty rate of 24.9% 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
Scott County, TN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 100/100
- Median home price
- $117k
- Property tax
- 0.53%
- Growing season
- 181 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 53.9"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Big South Fork Medical Center, 5.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Scott County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Scott County?
- Scott County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 181-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.2°F, and average winter lows of 25.6°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $117,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.53%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Big South Fork Medical Center is 5.1 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 Scott 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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