RANK #696 / 996 · POP 53,777 · TN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.0%
Kingston, the county seat, once served as Tennessee's capital for a single day in 1807, a unique historical footnote. Located less than an hour from Knoxville, Roane County sits in the Tennessee Valley, bordered by the Cumberland Plateau and within view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Interstate 40 and 75 provide convenient travel, making commutes efficient for those working in nearby cities. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, particularly around Watts Bar Lake, which boasts over 700 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, and watersports. Numerous parks, trails, and wildlife areas, including Mount Roosevelt Wildlife Management Area, provide additional opportunities for outdoor activities.
Life in Roane County offers a small-town atmosphere with access to urban amenities. The public school system serves over 6,300 students across 18 schools, and Roane State Community College provides local higher education options. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in advanced energy and technology sectors, including initiatives at the Oak Ridge Reservation. Manufacturing and infrastructure projects also contribute to the economic landscape, creating new job opportunities and workforce development programs. The area attracts a mix of families and retirees, drawn by the quality of life and natural surroundings.
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.7x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Orano Uranium Enrichment Facility
Orano USA
|
$4,000M | Planned |
|
Oklo Small Modular Nuclear Reactors & Fuel Recycling
Oklo
|
$1,680M | Planned |
|
Radiant Nuclear Generator Factory
Radiant Industries
|
$280M | Planned |
|
Ridgeline Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion
Enbridge (East Tennessee Natural Gas)
|
$122M | Under Construction |
|
Kingston Energy Complex Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Protomet Manufacturing Facility Expansion
Protomet Corporation
|
$25M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Roane County has a Boom Town Index score of 30/100, ranking #696 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -5.7% and a median household income of $66,460, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Roane County is $193,400 with median rent at $753/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3436, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: -5.7%. Home values changed +2.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.9% of Roane County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.