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Benton, TN

Full City Profile · Tennessee · Polk County County

2.5 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,349 Population 445/sq mi density
$35,000 Median Income $22,473 per capita
$167,700 Home Value $253,673 Zillow
$530 Median Rent 29.8% income on rent
60°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
318 Violent Crime/100K 2,703 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$35,000 median income, 4.5% unemployment
B+
Affordability
4.0 / 5.0
$167,700 home value, $530/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
318 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.9 / 5.0
11.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Benton enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 57.6 inches. The area receives 1.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.6°F
10% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation747 ft (228 m)
Area3.2 sq mi (8.3 km²)
Population Density445/sq mi
Coordinates35.1749°N, 84.6517°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyPolk County County
Nearest AirportMc Ghee Tyson (TYS)
57 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 57.6"
52% above US avg
Snowfall 1.1"
Wettest Month (Mar) 6.14"
Driest Month (Oct) 3.54"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score31.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability85.0 / 100
Community Resilience16.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

179 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.6. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 19, 2025.

Apr 29, 2003 8 km S of Valley Head, Alabama M4.6 117 km
May 10, 2025 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee M4.1 73 km
Jul 5, 1995 12 km ESE of Tellico Plains, Tennessee M3.7 48 km
Jun 17, 1998 9 km SSE of Coalfield, Tennessee M3.6 89 km
Jul 19, 1997 12 km E of Cohutta, Georgia M3.5 29 km
Jun 19, 2007 10 km ENE of Spencer, Tennessee M3.5 94 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 137 km
Mar 5, 2019 7 km NE of Maynardville, Tennessee M3.4 150 km
Apr 11, 2006 5 km NE of Etowah, Tennessee M3.3 26 km
Mar 18, 1995 10 km SE of Dayton, Tennessee M3.3 38 km
Apr 20, 2010 4 km SW of Maryville, Tennessee M3.3 85 km
Aug 31, 2009 2 km NNE of Friendsville, Tennessee M3.3 82 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 133 km
Aug 1, 2009 8 km ENE of Ducktown, Tennessee M3.2 35 km
Mar 21, 2001 7 km ESE of Trenton, Georgia M3.2 80 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 135 km
May 10, 2006 3 km WNW of Madisonville, Tennessee M3.2 46 km
Apr 5, 1994 10 km N of Trenton, Georgia M3.2 80 km
Mar 7, 2001 6 km NW of Decatur, Tennessee M3.2 46 km
Mar 7, 2001 5 km WNW of Decatur, Tennessee M3.2 43 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

305 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 96 fatalities, 1,317 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 59 km 20
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 68 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 72 km 4
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 41 km 4
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 83 km 9
Apr 3, 1974 EF4 94 km 6
May 2, 1953 EF4 40 km 4
Apr 12, 2020 EF3 61 km 2
Nov 30, 2016 EF3 10 km 2
Jan 30, 2013 EF3 97 km 1
Mar 2, 2012 EF3 47 km 0
Dec 22, 2011 EF3 95 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF3 86 km 1
Mar 23, 2011 EF3 66 km 0
Nov 10, 2002 EF3 90 km 4
Nov 10, 2002 EF3 95 km 7
Mar 29, 1997 EF3 23 km 0
Mar 29, 1997 EF3 62 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF3 85 km 0
Apr 15, 1994 EF3 36 km 1
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: ROUGH RIDGE (27,610 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 ROUGH RIDGE 27,610 30 km
2016 TELLICO 14,172 98 km
2016 BOTELER 8,626 90 km
2024 RX - T26 BRUSHY RIDGE 8,324 52 km
2016 MAPLE SPRINGS 7,696 70 km
2024 RX - T10 MILLER RIDGE 5,154 55 km
2003 UNNAMED 4,675 84 km
2024 RX - O63 CHESTNUT MTN 4,570 19 km
2013 BEAVER DAM 4,336 50 km
2001 UNNAMED 4,213 77 km
2021 UNNAMED 3,888 55 km
2021 DUTCH CREEK 3,845 16 km
2019 COW CAMP 3,786 61 km
2000 UNNAMED 3,539 74 km
2014 UNNAMED 3,298 77 km
2016 CAMP BRANCH 3,234 99 km
2023 PANTHER KNOB 3,170 99 km
2019 JACK DAVIS/DOGWOOD SPRINGS RX 3,120 51 km
2010 COW CAMP-A 2,953 60 km
2022 UNNAMED 2,933 24 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 5.3 in Coldest
February 42°F (5°C) 4.9 in
March 49°F (10°C) 6.1 in Wettest
April 57°F (14°C) 4.6 in
May 66°F (19°C) 4.8 in
June 73°F (23°C) 4.1 in
July 78°F (26°C) 5.1 in Warmest
August 76°F (24°C) 4.1 in
September 70°F (21°C) 4.3 in
October 59°F (15°C) 3.5 in Driest
November 49°F (9°C) 4.7 in
December 41°F (5°C) 5.3 in

Benton has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 56.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.1") and October the driest (3.5").

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