RANK #297 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 33 TN · POP 55,983
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
Dickson County, Tennessee, offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and access to larger city amenities, with Nashville just a 30-minute drive east via I-40. The county seat, Charlotte, is notable for its historic courthouse, the oldest still in use in Tennessee. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, centered around Montgomery Bell State Park, which features extensive opportunities for camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and golf. The community maintains a friendly, close-knit feel, appealing to those seeking a quieter lifestyle with natural scenery.
Life in Dickson County often involves a mix of local engagement and commutes to nearby cities for work or entertainment. The public school system serves over 8,000 students across 15 schools and is considered above average. The local economy is experiencing growth, with job opportunities expanding in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. Recent investments in manufacturing and energy-related initiatives are contributing to this economic development, attracting businesses and supporting a stable housing market.
Dickson County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.0% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +3.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 17.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cumberland Next Generation Energy Center (Natural Gas Plant & Pipeline)
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Kinder Morgan
|
$2,100M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 70/100, Dickson County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $75,003 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TN.
Dickson County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $306,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,015/month on average.
Dickson County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.3%). Home values shifted +2.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.33% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Dickson County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.