RANK #390 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 33 TN · POP 65,669
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Hamblen County, Tennessee, distinguishes itself with Morristown, its county seat, which once served as a crucial transportation and commercial hub. Located in East Tennessee, approximately 40 miles northeast of Knoxville, the county offers a community atmosphere. The region is characterized by its natural beauty, with views of the Great Smoky Mountains and access to Cherokee Lake. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with Panther Creek State Park offering over 30 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horse trails, along with opportunities for camping, fishing, and swimming. Cherokee Lake provides additional boating and fishing activities. The area also boasts several disc golf courses, earning Morristown the title of "Tennessee's Disc Golf Capital."
Life in Hamblen County offers a lower cost of living compared to the national average. The public school system is recognized for its quality, and Walters State Community College provides local higher education options. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by manufacturing and food and agriculture sectors. Recent expansions in these areas have contributed to job creation, attracting individuals and families to the county.
Hamblen County is one of 35 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.0% runs above the profile's typical +1.4%.
See all 35 Secondary Market Surge counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.9x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Hamblen County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Ridgeline Expansion Project (Natural Gas Pipeline & Solar)
Enbridge Inc. / Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Performance Food Group (PFG) Expansion
Performance Food Group Company (PFG)
|
$33M | Planned |
|
Rich Products Manufacturing Expansion
Rich Products
|
$27M | 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 61/100, Hamblen County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $55,454 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TN.
Housing in Hamblen County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $210,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $857/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Hamblen County is attracting residents (population +1.1% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -1.2%. Housing values changed +4.0% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.83% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Hamblen County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.