Overton County is located in north-central Tennessee along the Kentucky border, within the Upper Cumberland region. Established in 1806 and named for legislator John Overton, the county developed around small farming communities and later incorporated timber and light manufacturing alongside agriculture. Overton County is small in population, with a dispersed settlement pattern and a predominantly rural character. Livingston serves as the county seat and the largest population center.

The county’s landscape includes rolling uplands, forested ridges, and river valleys typical of the Cumberland Plateau’s margins, with extensive outdoor and water resources shaped by nearby reservoirs and tributaries of the Cumberland River system. The local economy is anchored by public services, small businesses, agriculture, and manufacturing employment, with commuting ties to larger Upper Cumberland hubs. Cultural life reflects regional Appalachian and Middle Tennessee influences, including community events centered on schools, churches, and local civic organizations.

Overton County Local Demographic Profile

Overton County is located in north-central Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau/Upper Cumberland region, with Livingston as the county seat. The county borders Kentucky to the north and is part of the state’s largely rural Upper Cumberland area.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Overton County, Tennessee, Overton County had:

  • Population (2020): 22,241
  • Population estimate (July 1, 2023): 22,336

For local government and planning resources, visit the Overton County official website.

Age & Gender

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Overton County, Tennessee:

  • Persons under 5 years: 5.2%
  • Persons under 18 years: 20.7%
  • Persons 65 years and over: 22.5%
  • Female persons: 49.8% (male persons: 50.2%)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Overton County, Tennessee (race categories shown as “alone,” except where noted):

  • White alone: 94.6%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.8%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 0.4%
  • Asian alone: 0.4%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.0%
  • Two or more races: 3.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.0%

Household and Housing Data

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Overton County, Tennessee:

  • Households (2019–2023): 8,859
  • Persons per household (2019–2023): 2.41
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2019–2023): 77.1%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2019–2023, dollars): $172,200
  • Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage (2019–2023, dollars): $1,154
  • Median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage (2019–2023, dollars): $383
  • Median gross rent (2019–2023, dollars): $732
  • Housing units (2023): 10,804

Email Usage

Overton County is a largely rural Upper Cumberland county where low population density and hilly terrain can raise the cost of last‑mile internet buildout, making digital communication (including email) more dependent on home broadband availability than in urban areas. Direct county-level email usage statistics are generally not published, so email adoption is inferred from proxy indicators such as broadband and computer access.

Digital access indicators are available from the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (American Community Survey), including household broadband subscription and computer ownership, which are commonly used proxies for routine internet activities like email. Age structure also affects email adoption; county age distribution (ACS) can indicate a larger share of older adults, a group that nationally shows lower adoption of some digital services relative to working-age adults. Gender distribution is typically close to parity and is not a primary driver of email access compared with age and connectivity.

Connectivity limitations are tracked through federal coverage and deployment programs; maps and context from the FCC National Broadband Map and state broadband planning resources help document gaps in fixed broadband availability that can constrain reliable email access.

Mobile Phone Usage

Overton County is a largely rural county in the Upper Cumberland region of north-central Tennessee, with Livingston as the county seat. The county’s rolling hills, valleys, and forested areas typical of the Cumberland Plateau/Highland Rim transition contribute to variable radio propagation and make “last-mile” and “last-coverage” connectivity more challenging than in denser urban counties. Population is dispersed across small towns and unincorporated areas, which tends to increase dependence on mobile networks for broadband where wired options are limited. Official county context is available from the Tennessee county overview for Overton County and the county government’s own materials at the Overton County website.

Key distinction: network availability vs. adoption

  • Network availability (coverage) refers to where mobile operators report service (voice/LTE/5G) and where signal can be received under typical outdoor conditions.
  • Household adoption (use/subscription) refers to whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service and/or rely on mobile connections for internet access at home.

County-level reporting often provides better detail for availability than for adoption, and many adoption indicators are published only at broader geographies (state, multi-county regions, or sample-based survey areas). The most commonly used federal sources are the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection for availability and the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS for subscription/adoption.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (county-level where available)

Household internet subscription (adoption proxy)

  • The primary federal dataset for household connectivity and subscription is the American Community Survey (ACS). It reports whether a household has an internet subscription (and distinguishes some subscription types), but county estimates can have sampling error and may be suppressed or have large margins for smaller geographies.
  • County-level tables are accessible through Census.gov (data.census.gov). Relevant ACS topics include:
    • Internet subscriptions (broadband such as cable/fiber/DSL, cellular data plan, satellite, etc., depending on the ACS table/year).
    • Computer and smartphone availability (device ownership/access indicators).
  • Limitation: ACS estimates reflect household subscription and device availability, not measured network performance, and “cellular data plan” responses do not indicate whether the plan is used as a primary home connection or supplemental access.

Mobile-only households (adoption pattern)

  • County-level “wireless-only” (mobile-only voice) measures are typically not published as standard county tables by federal agencies in the same way ACS provides internet subscription. Where such measures exist, they are usually derived from specialized health/telecom surveys at larger geographies.
  • Limitation: A definitive county-level mobile-only voice penetration figure is not consistently available in a single official dataset.

Mobile internet usage patterns: 4G and 5G availability (network availability)

FCC Broadband Data Collection (coverage by technology)

The most direct public, address-level representation of mobile broadband coverage in the U.S. comes from the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC). It provides reported coverage for mobile providers by generation/technology and is intended to be more granular than older Form 477 reporting.

  • County-level map exploration and location-based checks can be performed using the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Limitation: FCC mobile coverage in the BDC is provider-reported modeled coverage and reflects availability, not guaranteed indoor service, not congestion, and not actual speed experienced. Rural terrain and building materials can substantially reduce indoor reception relative to outdoor modeled coverage.

4G LTE availability (typical pattern in rural Tennessee counties)

  • In rural counties such as Overton, 4G LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband layer, with the greatest geographic footprint relative to newer 5G layers.
  • Availability varies by carrier and by corridor: coverage is typically stronger along state routes and around towns, with weaker or absent service in hollows, forested ridges, and sparsely populated areas.

5G availability (non-uniform and often corridor-focused)

  • 5G availability in rural counties tends to be uneven, with the most common rural pattern being:
    • 5G “extended range”/low-band where carriers have deployed it broadly enough to overlay parts of existing LTE footprints; and
    • Limited or absent high-capacity 5G in many rural interior areas because it requires denser infrastructure.
  • The FCC map supports filtering by mobile technology generation to distinguish LTE versus 5G availability in specific locations within Overton County.

Performance and reliability (usage implications)

  • Actual user experience depends on tower backhaul capacity, sector loading, terrain shadowing, and indoor penetration. These factors can produce a gap between “coverage shown” and “usable data service,” especially away from major roads.
  • Limitation: Public, county-wide measured datasets for mobile throughput and latency (representative and methodologically consistent) are not typically published as an official county dashboard; third-party crowd-sourced tools exist but are not equivalent to official reporting.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Smartphones and computers (adoption indicators)

  • The ACS provides indicators for device availability (for example, presence of a smartphone, computer type, and whether the household has an internet subscription). These estimates can be retrieved for Overton County via Census.gov.
  • In rural counties, smartphones often function as the most widely held internet-capable device due to lower upfront costs compared with wired installation and the ability to use mobile data where fixed broadband is unavailable.

Hotspots and fixed wireless substitution (usage pattern)

  • Many households in rural areas use smartphone tethering or dedicated mobile hotspots as a substitute for fixed broadband when wired service is limited or unaffordable.
  • Limitation: There is no single official county-level table that quantifies hotspot prevalence specifically; the best public proxy is the ACS “cellular data plan” subscription category where available in the relevant ACS release and table definitions.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Overton County

Rural settlement pattern and population density (connectivity implications)

  • Dispersed housing and lower population density raise per-user infrastructure costs and can reduce incentives for dense cell-site placement. This tends to increase reliance on fewer towers with larger coverage areas, which can reduce capacity and indoor reliability in some locations.
  • Basic demographic and housing density context is available through Census.gov for Overton County (population counts, housing units, rural/urban characteristics where tabulated, commuting patterns).

Terrain and land cover (signal propagation)

  • Hilly terrain, forest cover, and valleys can create line-of-sight obstructions, producing “shadowed” areas and spotty reception even within nominal coverage polygons.
  • These effects influence not only availability but also practical usability for data-intensive applications, especially indoors and in low-lying areas.

Income, age, and education (adoption and device mix)

  • Nationally and statewide, lower incomes and older age distributions correlate with lower rates of broadband subscription and lower device diversity. County-specific values are available from the ACS but should be interpreted with margins of error at county scale.
  • Relevant ACS socioeconomic tables (income, poverty, age distribution, educational attainment) are accessible via Census.gov and can be used to contextualize mobile adoption patterns without asserting causality beyond what the data supports.

State and local broadband context (useful for interpreting county conditions)

  • Tennessee’s broadband planning, grant programs, and mapping initiatives provide context on where fixed broadband gaps exist, which often increases dependence on mobile connectivity. State-level resources are available through the Tennessee Broadband Office.
  • Limitation: State broadband offices primarily track broadband availability and program areas; they do not consistently publish county-specific mobile adoption rates.

Data limitations specific to Overton County

  • County-level mobile penetration (subscriptions per capita, mobile-only household rates) is not consistently available as an official, directly comparable county metric across sources.
  • Mobile availability is best assessed through the FCC’s availability data, but it is provider-reported modeled coverage and does not guarantee indoor service or account for congestion.
  • Mobile adoption and device type are best approximated through ACS household survey tables, which are sample-based and may carry significant margins of error for smaller counties.

Primary external sources used for county-relevant indicators

Social Media Trends

Overton County is a rural county in northeastern Middle Tennessee on the Kentucky border, with Livingston as the county seat and nearby communities such as Rickman and Monroe. The county’s settlement pattern (low density, longer travel distances, and strong church- and school-centered community life) and its mix of agriculture, small business, public-sector employment, and regional commuting influence social media use toward mobile-first access and utility-oriented platforms used for local news, community updates, and marketplace activity.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • County-specific “active social media user” penetration is not published in standard national datasets (major surveys generally report by nation, region, or metro status rather than by county).
  • Best available benchmark for Overton County uses U.S. adult estimates and rural/urban splits:
  • Interpretation for Overton County: As a rural Tennessee county, overall penetration is typically near the national adult baseline, with platform mix skewing toward Facebook and YouTube and away from some newer, youth-skewing platforms.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

National survey results consistently show highest adoption among younger adults, with usage declining with age:

  • 18–29: highest social media usage (near-universal in most Pew waves).
  • 30–49: very high usage.
  • 50–64: majority usage, but lower than younger cohorts.
  • 65+: lowest usage, though still a substantial minority on major platforms.
    Source: Pew Research Center age-by-platform breakdowns.

Overton County implication: The county’s age structure and rural characteristics typically align with strong Facebook use across adult ages, YouTube use across nearly all ages, and the most diverse multi-platform behavior concentrated among 18–49.

Gender breakdown

Across the U.S., gender differences are platform-specific rather than a large overall “social media vs. no social media” divide:

  • Women are more likely than men to use platforms such as Pinterest and (often) Instagram.
  • Men are more likely than women to use platforms such as Reddit.
  • Facebook and YouTube tend to be broadly used by both genders with smaller gaps.
    Source: Pew Research Center gender-by-platform tables.

Overton County implication: With Facebook and YouTube dominating in many rural communities, the overall county gender split among social media users is typically modest, while marketplace/local-groups activity often skews female and forum-style usage (e.g., Reddit) skews male.

Most-used platforms (benchmarks with percentages)

County-level platform percentages are generally unavailable; the most reliable approximations come from U.S. adult benchmarks:

  • YouTube: ~83% of U.S. adults
  • Facebook: ~68%
  • Instagram: ~47%
  • Pinterest: ~35%
  • TikTok: ~33%
  • LinkedIn: ~30%
  • X (formerly Twitter): ~22%
  • Snapchat: ~27%
  • WhatsApp: ~29%
  • Reddit: ~22%
    Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media Use in 2023.

Overton County likely ranking (typical rural pattern):

  1. Facebook (local groups, announcements, buy/sell)
  2. YouTube (how-to, entertainment, news clips)
  3. Instagram (local businesses, families, schools/athletics)
  4. TikTok (stronger among younger users; entertainment-driven)
  5. Pinterest (household, crafts, planning; female-skewing) Platforms such as LinkedIn tend to index lower in rural counties due to occupational mix, while Reddit use is typically lower than Facebook/YouTube due to community visibility and local-network utility.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Community information and “local utility” drive engagement: Rural counties commonly rely on Facebook Groups for school updates, church and civic events, weather/disruption reports, and community-to-community communication.
  • Marketplace behavior is prominent: Local buy/sell/trade activity and informal commerce are strongly associated with Facebook usage patterns in smaller communities.
  • Video consumption is cross-generational: YouTube supports passive, high-frequency viewing across age groups; short-form video (TikTok/Instagram Reels) concentrates among younger residents.
  • News discovery is mixed and often incidental: National research shows many Americans encounter news on social platforms, with Facebook and YouTube frequently cited as common pathways. Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media and News fact sheet.
  • Direct messaging complements public posting: Use of platform messaging (Messenger, Instagram DMs) often substitutes for email in informal local coordination, especially where social ties overlap offline.

Note on data limits: The most methodologically reliable, regularly updated usage percentages are reported at the national level (and sometimes by broad community type) rather than for individual counties such as Overton County.

Family & Associates Records

Overton County, Tennessee maintains family and associate-related public records primarily through state and county offices. Vital records (birth and death certificates) are registered under the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, with certified copies issued through the state and, in some cases, through local health departments. Marriage licenses are typically handled at the county level through the Overton County Clerk. Divorce records are court records filed in Chancery or Circuit Court and are accessed through the Overton County Courts offices. Adoption records are generally maintained as confidential court and/or vital records and are not treated as open public records.

Public databases vary by record type. Property ownership and related instruments (often used to establish family or associate connections) are maintained by the Overton County Register of Deeds, which may provide indexing or document search tools. Recorded plats and deed records are commonly accessible in-person, with any available online search provided by the office.

Access occurs online through official portals where offered and in-person at the County Clerk, Register of Deeds, and court clerk offices during business hours.

Privacy restrictions apply to many vital records, especially births, adoptions, and some death records, with access governed by Tennessee eligibility rules and identity verification requirements.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage records
    • Marriage license / application: Issued by the county clerk prior to the ceremony.
    • Marriage certificate / return: The completed license (often called the “marriage return”) filed back with the county after the ceremony and recorded as the official marriage record.
  • Divorce records
    • Divorce case file: Court pleadings and filings (e.g., complaint, summons, motions, parenting plan filings where applicable, agreements).
    • Final decree of divorce: The court’s final judgment dissolving the marriage.
  • Annulment records
    • Annulment case file and final order: Annulments are handled as court actions and maintained in the same manner as other domestic relations cases (with an order declaring the marriage void or voidable).

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records (recording and certified copies)

    • Office of record: Overton County Clerk (marriage licenses are issued and recorded at the county level).
    • Access methods: In-person requests at the County Clerk’s office and written requests are commonly used for certified copies; availability of online ordering varies by office practice and vendor arrangements.
    • State-level reference copies: The Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records maintains statewide marriage records for periods it covers and issues certified copies under state rules.

  • Divorce and annulment records (court record and certified copies)

    • Office of record: Overton County Circuit Court Clerk (divorce and annulment are court matters and the clerk maintains the official case file and decrees).
    • Access methods: Case records are accessed through the clerk’s office (in-person and record-copy requests). Some docket information may be available through Tennessee’s public case search where provided.
    • State-level divorce certificate (not the full decree): The Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records issues a divorce certificate for divorces granted in Tennessee for covered years; the certificate is a vital record summary and not a substitute for a court-certified decree.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / recorded marriage record

    • Full names of spouses (including maiden name where recorded)
    • Date and place of marriage
    • Date license issued and license number/book-page reference
    • Officiant name and title; officiant’s certification/return
    • Ages or dates of birth and residences at the time of application (content varies by form version and time period)
    • Names of parents may appear on some applications or historical formats

  • Divorce decree (final judgment)

    • Names of parties and case number
    • Date of filing and date of decree
    • Court and judge information
    • Legal grounds and dissolution language
    • Orders on division of property/debts, restoration of name (where granted), and court costs
    • Provisions on children (custody, parenting time, child support) and spousal support (where applicable)

  • Annulment order

    • Names of parties and case number
    • Findings supporting annulment under Tennessee law and the court’s order declaring the marriage void/voidable
    • Related orders addressing property, support, or children when addressed by the court

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • County-recorded marriage documents are generally treated as public records for inspection and copying, while certified copies are issued under office procedures and state identification requirements. Some personal identifiers may be limited in copies provided to the public.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Many filings and final decrees are public court records, but access may be restricted for protected information.
    • Tennessee court rules require redaction or limitation of dissemination of certain data (commonly including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and information about minors). Courts may also seal specific documents or portions of a file by order in limited circumstances (for example, to protect children, confidential evaluations, or sensitive personal information).
    • Vital Records “divorce certificates” are issued under state vital records eligibility and identification rules and provide summary information rather than the full court file.

  • Legal framework (general)

Education, Employment and Housing

Overton County is in north-central Tennessee on the Kentucky border, with Livingston as the county seat and a predominantly rural settlement pattern centered on small towns and unincorporated communities. The county’s population is modest compared with Tennessee’s metro counties, and community life is closely tied to public schools, health and social services in Livingston, and regional job markets that include Cookeville and other Upper Cumberland employment centers.

Education Indicators

Public schools (number and names)

Overton County’s public schools are operated by Overton County Schools. Commonly listed district schools include:

  • A.H. Roberts Elementary School
  • Livingston Academy (high school)
  • Rickman Elementary School
  • Wilson Elementary School

School counts and current school rosters can change with consolidations and grade reconfigurations; the authoritative directory is the district’s official site and listings published by the state. See the Overton County Schools directory and the Tennessee Department of Education for the most current school-by-school roster.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio (district-level): Publicly reported ratios for small rural districts in the Upper Cumberland region typically fall in the mid-teens to around 16:1. A precise current-year ratio is best taken from state accountability profiles or district reporting; county-specific ratios are not consistently published in a single stable table year-to-year.
  • Graduation rate: Tennessee reports graduation rates annually (cohort-based) at the school and district level. Overton County’s rate is generally reported in line with rural district norms in the region (often high-80s to low-90s percent), but the exact most-recent figure should be taken from the state’s accountability release for Livingston Academy/Overton County Schools. The state’s graduation and accountability reporting is published through the Tennessee Education Data portal.

Data note: Because student–teacher ratio and graduation rates are updated annually and may differ by school versus district, the most defensible “most recent” values are the latest Tennessee accountability tables rather than third-party summaries.

Adult education levels

From the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (the standard source for county education attainment):

  • High school diploma or higher (age 25+): Rural Upper Cumberland counties typically report around the mid-to-high 80% range.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): Rural counties in this region commonly report in the low-to-mid teens (%).

The most recent official county values are available via data.census.gov (ACS Educational Attainment tables for Overton County, TN).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

  • Advanced Placement (AP) / college preparatory coursework: Livingston Academy is the county’s primary site for AP/advanced coursework and dual-enrollment pathways typical of Tennessee high schools.
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Tennessee high schools generally offer CTE concentrator pathways aligned to regional labor needs (e.g., health science, skilled trades, business/IT). Specific pathways available locally vary by year and staffing and are best confirmed through Livingston Academy and district CTE information.
  • Regional postsecondary/technical options: Overton County students often access technical certificates and workforce programs through Tennessee’s public community and technical college system. Statewide program information is consolidated through the Tennessee Board of Regents system.

School safety measures and counseling resources

  • School safety: Tennessee districts commonly implement controlled building access, visitor check-in procedures, safety drills, and coordination with school resource officers (SROs) or local law enforcement; exact staffing and practices are district-determined and described in district safety policies.
  • Counseling and student supports: Schools typically provide school counselors, referrals to behavioral health resources, and structured supports under Tennessee’s student services frameworks. For statewide context on student supports and school safety policies, see the Tennessee Education Health & Safety resources.

Data note: Specific counts of counselors, SRO staffing levels, and security upgrades are not consistently reported in a single public dataset at the county level; they are generally documented in district policy documents and board meeting materials.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

County unemployment rates are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). Overton County’s unemployment rate in the most recent annual period has generally tracked above Tennessee’s metro averages and near rural state averages. The definitive, most recent annual and monthly values are available through the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and Tennessee county releases.

Data note: A single “most recent year” value depends on the latest finalized annual average; monthly figures can differ.

Major industries and employment sectors

Overton County’s employment base is typical of rural Upper Cumberland counties, with a mix of:

  • Manufacturing (often including wood products, light manufacturing, and related supply chains)
  • Health care and social assistance (clinics, long-term care, and support services)
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (serving local demand and travel through regional corridors)
  • Construction (residential and infrastructure-related)
  • Public administration and education (county government and schools)
  • Agriculture/forestry (smaller share of wage-and-salary jobs but important to land use and self-employment)

County industry employment profiles and firm counts are published through federal and state labor market tools; a standard reference is the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

The occupational mix is usually weighted toward:

  • Production, transportation, and material moving
  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Construction and extraction
  • Healthcare support and practitioners (smaller but stable share)
  • Education, training, and library

Detailed occupational estimates are typically published at broader labor market geographies (region/metro/nonmetro areas) rather than every county; county-level occupational breakdowns may be limited or modeled. Regional occupational patterns are available from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

  • Commuting patterns: A substantial share of residents commute out of the county for work, reflecting limited local job density and the pull of nearby employment centers.
  • Mean travel time to work: Rural Tennessee counties commonly report mean commute times in the mid-20-minute range (often around 25–30 minutes), with most commuting by personal vehicle.

The official county mean commute time and commuting mode shares are reported in the ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov.

Local employment versus out-of-county work

Like many rural counties, Overton County has a meaningful mismatch between resident labor force and in-county jobs, producing net out-commuting. Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) “OnTheMap” is the standard source for resident-versus-workplace flows; see Census OnTheMap for county commuting inflow/outflow patterns.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Overton County’s housing tenure is characteristically rural, with homeownership forming a clear majority and renting a smaller share than in metropolitan Tennessee counties. The official county homeownership and rental percentages are reported in ACS tenure tables on data.census.gov.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: County median values are generally below the Tennessee statewide median, reflecting rural pricing and a larger share of older housing stock.
  • Recent trends: Values have generally increased since 2020 in line with broader Tennessee appreciation, though rural counties often show more variability by location, land acreage, and housing condition.

Official median value (owner-occupied) is published in ACS; market trend context is commonly summarized by regional real estate reports and the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s price index series (not always county-specific for every rural county). For official housing value baselines, use ACS tables on data.census.gov.

Typical rent prices

  • Gross rent (median): Rents in Overton County are generally below statewide metro-area levels, with many rentals consisting of single-family homes, small multifamily properties, and manufactured home rentals. Median gross rent is available via ACS on data.census.gov.

Types of housing

  • Single-family detached homes are the predominant form, with many properties on larger rural lots.
  • Manufactured housing represents a more significant share than in urban counties.
  • Small multifamily buildings and limited apartment stock are concentrated near Livingston and along major routes.
  • Rural land parcels and homes with acreage are common, affecting price dispersion more than in suburban markets.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

  • Livingston area: Higher concentration of services and amenities (schools, county services, healthcare, retail) and the most clustered residential development.
  • Rickman and outlying communities: More dispersed housing patterns, longer travel distances to schools and services, and a higher prevalence of larger lots and agricultural/wooded parcels.

Because Overton County is largely rural, “neighborhood” characteristics are often defined by distance to Livingston and school catchment areas rather than by dense subdivision patterns.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

  • Tax structure: Tennessee local property taxes are primarily administered at the county and (where applicable) municipal level, with rates expressed per $100 of assessed value. Assessment ratios differ by property type; owner-occupied residential is assessed at a fraction of appraised value under state rules.
  • Typical homeowner cost: The most comparable “typical” measure across counties is median real estate taxes paid (ACS). This is available for Overton County on data.census.gov.
  • Average effective rate: County-specific effective rates vary by assessment practices and local rate setting; authoritative rate tables are maintained by county trustee/assessor offices and the Tennessee Comptroller’s publications. For statewide framework and local finance context, see the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.

Data note: Without citing the county’s current adopted tax rate table (which can change annually and differs between county and any municipal overlays), the most stable county-level proxy for homeowner burden is ACS “real estate taxes paid.”

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Tennessee