Rocky Top, TN

This city of 1,700 residents needs 10 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
1,700 (2026)
Households
651
Median household income
$35,222 (2026)
Typical home value
$244,253
Owner-occupied
26%
Five-year housing need
10 units

Comparison to other Tennessee municipalities

Rocky Top: $35,222 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$17K >$127K
Rocky Top: 1.17 jobs to household ratio
<0.03 >3.39
Rocky Top: No permit data
<0.1% >20%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $244,253, typical home prices in Rocky Top, TN are close to the Tennessee average of $256,797. At a median household income of $35,222 in Rocky Top, TN, affordability is stretched, with households needing roughly $24,585 more to comfortably afford the typical home.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Rocky Top, TN has a population of roughly 1,607 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Rocky Top, TN has roughly 651 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Rocky Top, TN is relatively mixed, with detached single-family as the most common type at 48%. Rocky Top, TN is a heavily renter-occupied market, with just 26% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Rocky Top, TN needs 10 new units over the next 5 years.

10
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
9
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.3 per 1,000 units.
1
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 7.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
10
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
2
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
1.3%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.3%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?