RANK #2 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 33 TN · POP 55,208
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +45%
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.
Roane 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 +1.5%, wages +7.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.3x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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 1001 counties.
Roane County ranks #2 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 100/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +4.1% and a median household income of $71,885 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Roane County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $232,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $785/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Roane County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.1% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.4% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.82% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Roane County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.