RANK #782 / 1001 NAT · #26 / 33 TN · POP 54,884
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
The oldest standing train station in Tennessee, located in Niota, is a distinctive landmark in McMinn County, offering a glimpse into the region's past, including a documented slave sale in 1863. Located in Southeast Tennessee, McMinn County sits between Knoxville and Chattanooga, with both cities less than an hour away. This central location along I-75 makes for manageable commutes, with the average travel time being under 25 minutes. The county is characterized by its rural landscape, dotted with small farms and towns like Athens, the county seat, and Etowah. The area also offers outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, disc golf courses, and access to lakes for fishing and boating.
Life in McMinn County offers a lower cost of living compared to the national average, particularly for housing and transportation. The community is described as close-knit, with a mix of families and retirees. McMinn County Schools serve most of the county, with Athens and Etowah having separate districts for younger grades. The local economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in manufacturing and other sectors. Efforts are underway to attract new businesses and support existing ones, creating job opportunities and diversifying the economic landscape.
McMinn County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.4% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +5.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.7x — 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Tennessee Lithium Hydroxide Processing Facility
Piedmont Lithium
|
$582M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 21/100, McMinn County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $61,470 combined with job growth of -1.0% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in McMinn County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $211,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $803/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
McMinn County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -1.0%). Home values shifted +4.4% 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 4.95% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests McMinn County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.