Washington County
TN · Pop. 134,693 · Mixed County
Washington County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Tennessee, spanning 327 square miles with 134,693 residents at a density of 411.9 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $232,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.55% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 189-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.6°F and average winter lows of 28.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 44.9 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Franklin Woods Community Hospital is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 189-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.55% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 98.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Franklin Woods Community Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 5.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.3% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- At 411.9 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
- Wildfire risk is high, so defensible space and fire preparedness should be part of any build plan.
At a glance
Washington County, TN is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 67/100
- Median home price
- $232k
- Property tax
- 0.55%
- Growing season
- 189 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 44.9"
- Broadband
- 98.1%
- Nearest hospital
- Franklin Woods Community Hospital, 5.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Washington County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Washington County?
- Washington County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 189-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.6°F, and average winter lows of 28.4°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $232,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.55%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Franklin Woods Community Hospital is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 5 hospitals in the county.
Explore Tennessee Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
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More counties in Tennessee
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The closest counties to Washington 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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