District 2
RANK #558 / 996 NAT · #16 / 33 TN · POP 57,107
1YR FORECAST: +4.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Hawkins County, Tennessee, stands out for its rich history, particularly in Rogersville, the county seat and the state's second-oldest town. Its downtown area, along with many adjacent neighborhoods, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county, located in northeast Tennessee near the Virginia border, is bisected by the Holston River, offering diverse landscapes from farmlands to Appalachian mountain ranges. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, including kayaking on Cherokee Lake and hiking trails at Laurel Run Park, which features waterfalls and river frontage. Commuting to nearby cities like Kingsport or Johnson City is common, with average commute times around 27.7 minutes.
Life in Hawkins County offers a community-focused atmosphere, attracting families and retirees. The Hawkins County School District serves over 6,000 students across 18 schools, with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. The local economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in manufacturing, including automotive bearing parts and polysilicon production for solar panels and semiconductors. Existing companies are also expanding, contributing to job creation in the area.
Below national median (4.7x)
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.6x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Polysilicon Manufacturing Facility (Project Rocks)
Highland Materials
|
$900M | Planned |
|
Phipps Bend Industrial Park Site Preparation (Lot 17)
Hawkins County Industrial Development Board / Mattern & Craig
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Battery Storage System
Tenaska
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Hawkins County scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#558). Median household income is $53,647 and job growth is running at +0.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Hawkins County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $153,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.35, with rents averaging $737/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Hawkins County's population is growing — up +0.5% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.2%). Home values shifted +2.5% 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 4.39% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Hawkins County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.