Jamestown has been identified as the poorest town in Tennessee, based on a 24/7 Wall St. ranking that compared median household income among small places in each state. The town’s median household income is about $18,000, far below the Tennessee average, and 47.2% of households receive SNAP benefits.
Why Jamestown Ranked Lowest
The ranking used 2021 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau and focused on cities, towns, and unincorporated communities with populations between 1,000 and 25,000. In Jamestown, the combination of low household income and modest home values helped push it to the bottom of the list.
Jamestown is a small East Tennessee community with a population of around 2,000. Its median home value is about $68,100, which is also much lower than the state average of $193,700.
The Bigger Picture
Being named the poorest town does not mean every resident is struggling in the same way, but it does point to serious economic pressure in the area. Rural towns like Jamestown often have fewer job options, less wage growth, and more dependence on support programs than larger cities.
The report also shows that poverty is not limited to one town in Tennessee. Other places in the state have also appeared on poverty-focused rankings, reflecting wider economic challenges across rural and small-town Tennessee.
What It Means For Residents
Low income levels can affect housing, food security, healthcare access, and long-term opportunity. For a town like Jamestown, that can mean more households relying on assistance and fewer local resources to absorb economic setbacks.
At the same time, communities like Jamestown often build strong local support networks to help residents cope with hardship. That resilience matters, but it does not replace the need for better-paying jobs, workforce development, and investment in local services.
SOURCES:
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-11-10-tennessee-town-named-the-poorest-in-the-state/
- https://stacker.com/stories/tennessee/cities-tennessee-most-living-poverty
