Roane County

Roane County is located in East Tennessee, west of Knoxville, along the Tennessee River system in the Ridge-and-Valley region at the edge of the Cumberland Plateau. Established in 1801 and named for statesman Archibald Roane, it developed as a river- and rail-connected county with long ties to regional industry and energy production. Roane County is mid-sized by Tennessee standards, with a population of roughly 54,000 residents (2020 U.S. Census). The county seat is Kingston, one of Tennessee’s earliest planned towns, while Oak Ridge—partly within Roane County—adds a significant federal and scientific presence rooted in the Manhattan Project era. Landscapes include river valleys, forested ridges, and extensive waterfront along Watts Bar and Melton Hill lakes, supporting a mix of rural communities and small urbanized areas. The local economy includes manufacturing, government and research employment, services, and outdoor-recreation-related activity.

Roane County is located in eastern Tennessee, within the Knoxville metropolitan region along the Tennessee River system (including Watts Bar Lake). The county seat is Kingston, and the county includes the cities of Kingston, Harriman, and Rockwood.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts profile for Roane County, Tennessee, the county’s population was 54,603 (2020), with a 2023 population estimate of 55,921.

Age & Gender

Per the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts profile for Roane County (latest available county-level percentages shown there):

• Age distribution (share of total population)

  • Under 18 years: 17.0%
  • 18 to 64 years: 58.1%
  • 65 years and over: 24.9%

• Gender ratio

  • QuickFacts provides sex shares rather than a single ratio: Female persons: 50.8% (implying Male: 49.2%).

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts profile for Roane County (race categories reported in the standard Census format; Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity and may be of any race):

• White alone: 93.1%
• Black or African American alone: 2.3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 0.4%
• Asian alone: 0.9%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1%
• Two or More Races: 3.2%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.0%

Household & Housing Data

From the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts profile for Roane County:

• Households (2019–2023): 22,792
• Persons per household (2019–2023): 2.29
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2019–2023): 76.8%
• Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2019–2023, in 2023 dollars): $232,900
• Median selected monthly owner costs, with a mortgage (2019–2023): $1,192
• Median selected monthly owner costs, without a mortgage (2019–2023): $413
• Median gross rent (2019–2023): $845

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

Roane County, Tennessee includes a mix of small cities and low-density rural areas along the Tennessee River/Watts Bar Lake, where distance from providers and terrain can constrain fixed-line buildout and make digital communication more uneven than in dense metro areas.

Direct county-level email-use rates are generally not published, so email adoption is proxied using household internet and device access plus age structure from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS). ACS indicators commonly used to approximate email access include broadband internet subscriptions and the share of households with a computer (desktop/laptop/tablet), since regular email use typically requires reliable connectivity and a usable device.

Age distribution is a key influence because older populations tend to have lower uptake of online services and higher reliance on assisted or occasional access; Roane County’s median age and age-group shares from ACS provide the most consistent local proxy for this factor.

Gender distribution is available from ACS but is not a strong standalone predictor of email access compared with age and connectivity measures.

Connectivity limitations are reflected in federal broadband availability maps and rural-served-area designations, including the FCC National Broadband Map and the NTIA BroadbandUSA program resources.

Roane County is in East Tennessee, west of Knoxville, and includes the city of Kingston and communities along the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers. The county combines small urbanized areas with large rural tracts and ridge-and-valley terrain typical of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge region. Population is relatively dispersed outside the Kingston–Harriman–Rockwood corridor, and significant elevation changes, forest cover, and water bodies can affect radio propagation and the cost of extending terrestrial backhaul—factors that influence mobile coverage quality and performance.

Network availability (coverage) vs. household adoption (use)

Network availability describes where mobile providers report service as deployable (coverage layers, advertised technologies, and modeled signal). Household adoption describes whether residents subscribe to mobile service and use mobile broadband as their primary or supplemental internet connection. These measures are not interchangeable: an area can have reported 4G/5G availability but lower subscription rates due to affordability, device availability, preferences for fixed broadband, or inconsistent real-world performance.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (county-level availability and limitations)

County-specific “mobile penetration” (smartphone ownership or mobile subscription rates) is not consistently published at the county level in a way that is both current and statistically reliable. The most commonly cited ownership metrics are produced at national or state scales by surveys such as the American Community Survey (ACS) and other federal datasets, but they do not directly publish “smartphone ownership” as a standard county table.

County-relevant access indicators that are available include:

• Household internet subscription types (including cellular data plans): The U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS reports whether households have an internet subscription and the type, including “cellular data plan” subscriptions. These estimates can be retrieved for Roane County through the Census data portal and ACS tables. See the U.S. Census Bureau’s data tools at Census.gov data tables and methodological notes at American Community Survey (ACS).

  • Limitation: ACS “cellular data plan” indicates that a household reports a cellular data plan for internet access, but it does not measure signal quality or whether mobile is the primary connection.

• Mobile broadband deployment reporting: The Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Data Collection (BDC) includes provider-submitted availability for mobile broadband. The primary public interface for exploring availability is the FCC’s mapping platform at FCC National Broadband Map.

  • Limitation: FCC availability reflects provider-reported coverage and modeled propagation; local conditions can produce gaps or degraded service within reported coverage.

• State-level planning and local context: Tennessee broadband planning materials and mapping can provide contextual information about connectivity challenges and infrastructure priorities. See the Tennessee broadband office (TNECD) for statewide program context.

  • Limitation: State resources often emphasize fixed broadband projects; mobile coverage data is typically sourced from FCC or providers.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G/5G availability and typical usage)

4G LTE availability

4G LTE service is widely reported across most populated corridors in Roane County through national carriers, particularly along major transportation routes and towns. Countywide, the practical experience of 4G service typically varies by:

• Topography and vegetation (ridgelines, valleys, forested areas)
• Distance to towers and sector orientation
• Backhaul constraints (capacity limits can reduce throughput even with strong signal)
• Indoor vs. outdoor reception (building materials and terrain shielding)

The FCC map provides the primary public, address- and area-level view of reported mobile broadband availability and can be used to compare providers and technologies within the county via FCC National Broadband Map.

5G availability (and what it implies)

5G availability in Roane County is generally most reliable in and around towns and along higher-traffic corridors, with more variable reach in rural and terrain-shielded locations. Reported 5G coverage can include:

• Low-band 5G (broader coverage; performance closer to LTE in many deployments)
• Mid-band 5G (higher capacity; more limited geographic footprint than low-band)
• High-band/mmWave (very high speeds; typically limited to dense urban nodes and specific venues)

County-level public data usually does not provide a complete, independently verified breakdown of these layers everywhere in the county. Provider marketing maps can show technology layers but are not directly comparable across carriers without standardized definitions; the most standardized public reference remains FCC BDC-based availability on the FCC National Broadband Map, which focuses on broadband availability rather than consumer experience metrics.

Actual usage patterns (adoption vs. reliance)

ACS data can distinguish households that report:

• Any internet subscription
• Cellular data plan
• Other subscription types (e.g., cable, fiber, DSL, satellite)

This enables a county-level view of how common cellular-data-plan subscriptions are among households, which is the closest routinely published proxy for mobile broadband reliance at the household level. The relevant estimates for Roane County are accessible through Census.gov data tables (ACS), but the ACS does not indicate the share of people using 4G vs. 5G specifically.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

Direct county-level splits between smartphones, basic phones, tablets, and dedicated hotspots are not commonly available in public federal statistical products. In practice, consumer mobile broadband access is dominated by smartphones, with secondary use of:

• Tablets (often Wi‑Fi-first with optional cellular)
• Mobile hotspots / data-only devices (used where fixed broadband is limited or for travel)
• Fixed wireless “router” solutions using cellular networks (marketed by carriers as home internet in some areas, where available)

Data limitation: Publicly accessible, county-specific counts of device categories are typically proprietary (carrier or market research) and not released as standard county statistics.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Roane County

Settlement pattern and population density

Roane County includes denser pockets (Kingston, Harriman, Rockwood) surrounded by lower-density rural areas. Lower density increases per-user infrastructure cost and can correlate with:

• fewer macro sites per square mile,
• longer average distance to towers,
• more frequent reliance on marginal signal conditions.

Terrain and land cover

Ridge-and-valley terrain can block or attenuate cellular signals, creating coverage variability over short distances. Forested areas and elevation changes commonly affect:

• line-of-sight propagation,
• indoor penetration,
• consistency of data rates along secondary roads.

Transportation corridors and activity centers

Coverage and capacity investments often concentrate along:

• interstates and state highways,
• town centers,
• lake/river recreation areas with seasonal demand.

This pattern can produce stronger performance in corridors and more variable service on less-traveled routes.

Income, age, and housing characteristics (adoption-side factors)

Household adoption of mobile broadband and the likelihood of relying on cellular service can be influenced by:

• income and affordability (device cost and monthly plan costs),
• age distribution (smartphone adoption tends to be lower among older cohorts at broader geographies),
• housing type and fixed-broadband availability (areas lacking robust fixed options show higher cellular-plan reporting in ACS tables).

County-level demographic context and housing/internet subscription data are available through the U.S. Census Bureau data portal (ACS), while network availability is best assessed through the FCC National Broadband Map.

Summary of what can be stated with high confidence (and what cannot)

• High confidence (public, county-usable sources):

  • Mobile broadband availability can be examined at fine geographic scales using the FCC National Broadband Map (provider-reported deployment).
  • Household reporting of cellular data plan subscriptions (as a form of internet access) can be measured using ACS tables via Census.gov (adoption-side indicator).
  • Roane County’s terrain and dispersed settlement pattern are plausible structural factors affecting coverage variability (geography-side constraint).

• Not reliably available at county level in standard public datasets:

  • A definitive “mobile penetration rate” (smartphone ownership or mobile subscription per person) specific to Roane County.
  • A countywide breakdown of actual user connections by 4G vs. 5G usage share.
  • Comprehensive counts of device types (smartphones vs. basic phones vs. hotspots) at the county level.

For authoritative local context on county geography and communities (useful for interpreting coverage patterns), see Roane County government.

Roane County is in East Tennessee along the Tennessee River between Knoxville and the Cumberland Plateau, with Kingston (the county seat) and Oak Ridge on its eastern edge and nearby Harriman and Rockwood. The county’s mix of suburban-adjacent commuting patterns, manufacturing and energy-related employment in the broader Oak Ridge region, and significant lake-based recreation (Fort Loudoun and Watts Bar) tends to support routine smartphone-based social use alongside strong participation in local community and events pages.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• County-specific social media penetration rates are not published in major public surveys; standard practice is to infer local patterns from statewide and national benchmarks.
• Nationally, about 7 in 10 U.S. adults use social media according to the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet. Roane County usage is generally expected to track near this level, with variation driven primarily by age structure and broadband/smartphone access.
• Smartphone access is a key driver of social activity; Pew reports the vast majority of U.S. adults own smartphones, supporting “always-on” usage patterns (Pew Research Center mobile fact sheet).

Age group trends

Based on Pew’s national age gradients (Pew Research Center social media fact sheet), the most consistent pattern is:

• Ages 18–29: highest social media usage and highest multi-platform use.
• Ages 30–49: high usage, often oriented toward utility (groups, events, marketplace, local news) plus entertainment video.
• Ages 50–64: majority use, with stronger concentration on a smaller set of platforms.
• Ages 65+: lowest usage, with preference for a few mainstream platforms and lighter posting frequency.

Gender breakdown

• Pew’s platform-by-platform findings show gender differences depend on platform rather than a single overall split. Examples from the same Pew fact sheet (platform usage by demographic group):
  • Pinterest and Instagram tend to skew higher among women.
  • YouTube is broadly used across genders.
  • Reddit tends to skew higher among men.
• In Roane County, local community exchange (schools, churches, neighborhood groups, and classifieds) typically aligns with heavier use of platforms that support groups and sharing, which nationally includes Facebook.

Most-used platforms (benchmarks used for Roane County)

County-level platform market shares are not released publicly, so the most defensible “percentages where possible” are national benchmark adoption rates from Pew (U.S. adults, by platform) (Pew platform adoption table):

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
• Reddit: ~22%

In practice for counties like Roane (mid-sized, mixed rural/suburban, with many civic and school/community networks), the highest “functional importance” is typically associated with Facebook (groups/events/marketplace) and YouTube (how-to, entertainment, local/regional content), even where other platforms have substantial reach among younger residents.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Local-information utility: Platforms that support groups, event listings, and peer-to-peer exchange (notably Facebook) tend to concentrate engagement around school activities, local government updates, weather and road conditions, community events, and buy/sell activity.
• Video-led attention: National usage indicates video is central; YouTube’s very high adoption and TikTok/Instagram’s growth correspond to short-form video consumption and sharing and creator-led discovery (Pew social media fact sheet).
• Age-based platform clustering: Younger adults show higher multi-platform behavior and heavier use of Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat, while older adults tend to consolidate on fewer services, especially Facebook and YouTube.
• Engagement style: Community-oriented counties commonly show stronger engagement with posts that are immediately actionable (event reminders, service disruptions, lost-and-found, local sports, and community announcements) than with purely national discourse; this aligns with platforms optimized for local networks and sharing.

Roane County family and associate-related public records include vital records and court filings. Tennessee birth and death certificates are state-maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health Office of Vital Records, rather than by the county. Certified copies are available through the state’s Office of Vital Records and the state-authorized portal VitalChek (Tennessee). Adoption records in Tennessee are generally handled through state and court processes and are commonly subject to confidentiality restrictions; access is limited to eligible parties under state rules.

Roane County court records that can document family relationships (divorce, custody, guardianship, name changes, probate/estates) are filed with the Roane County Circuit Court Clerk and related courts. Recorded property records and some instruments referencing family status (deeds, liens, certain probate-related filings) are maintained by the Roane County Register of Deeds.

Public database availability varies. Tennessee provides statewide case access for many courts through Tennessee’s online case information (Appellate and related resources), while many local searches and certified copies remain in-person through the relevant clerk’s office.

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to recent vital records, adoption matters, juvenile cases, and sealed court filings; public access is limited to non-restricted portions of records.

Types of records available

• Marriage licenses (and returns/certificates)
  Roane County maintains county-issued marriage license records. Tennessee issues marriage licenses at the county level; the executed license (often called the “return”) is typically recorded after the ceremony is performed.

• Divorce records (court case files and decrees)
  Divorce actions are maintained as court records. The final divorce decree is part of the case file and may also be separately indexed in court minutes or order books, depending on local record-keeping practices.

• Annulments
  Annulments are handled through the courts and maintained as civil case records similar to divorces. The final order (annulment decree) is part of the court file.

• State-level vital records (marriage and divorce certificates)
  Tennessee maintains statewide marriage and divorce certificate data through the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. These are vital records (certifications/abstracts) and are distinct from the underlying county license or court case file.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

• Marriage records (county level): Roane County Clerk
  Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Roane County Clerk. Access is typically provided through:

  • In-person public counter search of marriage license books and indexes
  • Requests for certified copies through the County Clerk’s office procedures
    Official county contact information is published on the Roane County government site: https://www.roanecountytn.gov/.

• Divorce and annulment court records: Roane County courts / clerk of court
  Divorce and annulment case files are maintained by the clerk for the court with jurisdiction over the case (commonly Chancery Court or Circuit Court in Tennessee). Access is typically provided through:

  • In-person review of non-confidential case files and final orders at the clerk’s office
  • Requests for certified copies of final decrees/orders through the clerk
    Court directory information for Roane County is available through the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts: https://www.tncourts.gov/.

• State vital records: Tennessee Office of Vital Records
  State-issued marriage and divorce certificates are requested from the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/vital-records.html.

• Historical and archival access
  Older Roane County marriage books and court records may also be available on microfilm or in digitized form through regional repositories, libraries, or archival collections, depending on the record series and age.

Typical information included in these records

• Marriage license / recorded return (county record)

  • Full names of both parties
  • Date the license was issued and county of issuance
  • Officiant’s name/title and date/place of ceremony (on the completed return)
  • Ages or dates of birth (varies by period and form)
  • Residences/addresses and/or counties/states of residence (varies)
  • Parent/guardian consent information for underage applicants (where applicable)
  • License number/book and page references

• Divorce case file and final decree (court record)

  • Names of the parties; case number; court and filing date
  • Grounds/claims and procedural history (pleadings, motions, notices)
  • Findings and orders in the final decree (divorce granted/denied)
  • Provisions regarding division of property and debts
  • Orders regarding child custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support (when applicable)
  • Name changes authorized by the court (when applicable)

• Annulment order (court record)

  • Names of the parties; case number; court and filing date
  • Legal basis for annulment and findings of fact
  • Final order declaring the marriage void/voidable as adjudicated
  • Related orders concerning children, support, and property (when applicable)

• State marriage/divorce certificate (vital record)

  • Identifying information for the parties
  • Event date and place (marriage date/place or divorce date/county)
  • State file number and registration details
    These certificates generally contain summary/administrative data rather than the full court file content.

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Marriage records

  • Marriage licenses and recorded returns are generally treated as public records at the county level. Redactions may occur for information protected by law (for example, certain personal identifiers).

• Divorce and annulment records

  • Court records are generally public, but courts may restrict access to specific documents or information by law or court order. Commonly restricted or sealed materials include:
    • Records involving minors (certain filings or exhibits)
    • Protected personal identifiers (such as Social Security numbers) subject to redaction requirements
    • Documents sealed by the court (for example, certain financial records, sensitive exhibits, or orders)
  • Certified copies of final decrees are typically available for non-sealed matters through the appropriate court clerk.

• State vital records

  • The Tennessee Office of Vital Records issues certified copies under state rules governing vital records access and identification requirements. Access to certain certified copies can be limited to eligible requestors depending on record type and the time elapsed since the event.

Roane County is in East Tennessee along the Tennessee River and Watts Bar Lake, between Knoxville and the Cumberland Plateau. The county seat is Kingston, and the largest city is Harriman, with additional population centers including Rockwood and mid‑county suburban/rural areas. The community context is shaped by lake‑oriented recreation and tourism, regional manufacturing and logistics, and a sizable out‑commuting workforce tied to the Knoxville labor market and the Oak Ridge/Anderson County federal‑contracting ecosystem.

Education Indicators

Public schools (number and names)

Roane County is primarily served by Roane County Schools (county system) and the Kingston City School system.

• Roane County Schools (typical current portfolio):
  • High schools: Harriman High School; Kingston High School; Midway High School; Rockwood High School
  • Middle schools: Harriman Middle School; Midway Middle School; Rockwood Middle School
  • Elementary schools: Bradbury Elementary; Dyllis Springs Elementary; Glenwood Elementary; Midtown Elementary; Ridge View Elementary; Rockwood Primary School; Rockwood Elementary School; Tower Elementary
• Kingston City School: Kingston Elementary School

School counts and names can change due to consolidation/redistricting; the authoritative references are the district directories for Roane County Schools and Kingston City Schools.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratio (proxy): Countywide school‑level ratios are not always published in a single figure. A commonly used proxy is the district or county-level student–teacher ratio from federal/ACS school enrollment summaries, which for similar East Tennessee counties typically falls in the mid‑teens to high‑teens (students per teacher); Roane County generally aligns with that regional range.
• Graduation rates: Tennessee reports cohort graduation rates annually at the district and school level through the state report card. The most recent official rates for Roane County schools are available via the Tennessee School Report Card (district and individual high school pages).

(Note: Because graduation rate and student–teacher ratio values are published as annual accountability metrics and can vary by school and year, the state report card is the definitive source for the most recent figures.)

Adult educational attainment

Using the most widely cited local benchmark (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5‑year estimates), Roane County’s adult attainment profile is typical of mixed urban‑adjacent/rural East Tennessee counties:

• High school diploma or higher (age 25+): approximately high‑80s to low‑90s percent range (ACS 5‑year).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): approximately around one‑fifth to one‑quarter of adults (ACS 5‑year).

The current published estimates for Roane County are available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s data portal (search “Roane County, TN educational attainment”).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): High schools in Roane County commonly offer CTE pathways consistent with Tennessee’s statewide frameworks (e.g., skilled trades, health science, business/IT, agriculture, and work‑based learning), aligned to industry certifications where available.
• Advanced coursework: Tennessee high schools typically provide Advanced Placement (AP) and/or dual enrollment opportunities; offerings vary by campus and year.
• Regional STEM influence: Proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the broader Oak Ridge corridor supports regional emphasis on STEM exposure and workforce pipelines, though program availability is school‑specific.

School safety measures and counseling resources

• Safety: Roane County schools follow Tennessee requirements and district policies that generally include controlled building access, visitor management, school resource officer coordination (where staffed), emergency drills, and threat assessment protocols; specific implementations are documented in district safety plans and board policies.
• Counseling and student support: Schools provide school counselors and typically coordinate additional supports through student services (e.g., behavioral intervention, referrals to community mental‑health providers). Tennessee also maintains statewide student support frameworks referenced through district student services pages and state guidance.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

Roane County unemployment is tracked monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS). The most recent annualized pattern places Roane County in the low‑to‑mid single digits in line with East Tennessee’s post‑pandemic labor market. The official latest monthly and annual averages are published by BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (select Tennessee → Roane County).

Major industries and employment sectors

Roane County’s employment base is diversified, with concentration in:

• Manufacturing (including metal/industrial products and related supply chains typical of the Knoxville–Oak Ridge region)
• Health care and social assistance
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (supported by lake recreation and regional travel)
• Construction
• Public administration and education
• Transportation/warehousing (regional logistics links to I‑40 and the Knoxville metro)

Sector distributions for residents (by industry of employment) are reported in ACS “industry by occupation” tables via data.census.gov.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Resident employment commonly clusters in:

• Management, business, and financial occupations
• Office and administrative support
• Production and skilled trades (construction, installation/maintenance/repair)
• Healthcare support and practitioner roles
• Sales and service occupations
• Transportation and material moving

This reflects a mix of local service employment and trade/technical roles, with additional professional/technical employment tied to nearby regional employers.

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

• Commute time: Roane County’s mean commute is typically around the upper‑20s minutes (ACS 5‑year “mean travel time to work”), consistent with a county that sends workers to Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and other nearby job centers.
• Mode: Most commuters travel by private vehicle, with limited transit share typical of non‑metropolitan counties.

The most recent mean commute time and mode split are reported by the ACS at data.census.gov (commuting tables).

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

Roane County has a substantial share of residents working outside the county, reflecting proximity to major employment centers (Knoxville metro and Oak Ridge/Anderson County). The most direct public measure is the Census “county‑to‑county commuting flows” and LEHD Origin‑Destination Employment Statistics; a standard reference is the Census OnTheMap tool, which reports resident‑to‑workplace flows and inflow/outflow balances.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Roane County is predominantly owner‑occupied, typical of East Tennessee counties with a large single‑family housing stock:

• Owner‑occupied: commonly around three‑quarters of occupied housing units (ACS 5‑year).
• Renter‑occupied: commonly around one‑quarter (ACS 5‑year).

The latest county values are available in ACS “tenure” tables via data.census.gov.

Median property values and recent trends

• Median home value (ACS): Roane County’s median owner‑occupied home value is typically in the mid‑$200,000s range in recent ACS releases (5‑year estimates), reflecting the broader East Tennessee appreciation since 2020.
• Trend (proxy): Like much of East Tennessee, Roane County experienced rapid price growth in 2020–2022, followed by slower growth and greater variability with higher interest rates. Lakefront and near‑water properties (Watts Bar Lake/Tennessee River) tend to command premiums relative to inland rural areas.

(For transaction‑based pricing trends, market reports from regional MLS summaries provide more current indicators than ACS, but ACS remains the standard public benchmark for median value.)

Typical rent prices

• Gross rent (ACS): Roane County’s median gross rent is generally reported in the low‑to‑mid $1,000s per month range in recent ACS 5‑year estimates, with variation by unit type and proximity to town centers and major corridors.

Types of housing

• Single‑family detached homes dominate, especially in rural and suburban areas.
• Manufactured housing is a notable component in rural sections, consistent with regional patterns.
• Apartments and small multifamily stock is concentrated near Kingston, Harriman, Rockwood, and along major routes.
• Rural lots/acreage are common outside city centers; lake‑adjacent neighborhoods include a mix of primary residences and second homes.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

• Kingston/Harriman/Rockwood: Higher concentration of schools, municipal services, parks, and retail nodes; shorter in‑town trips and denser street networks.
• Mid‑county and unincorporated areas: Larger lots, more dispersed services, and greater reliance on driving; proximity to lake access and marinas is a key amenity driver in some neighborhoods.
• School proximity: Residential clusters near elementary and middle schools are most evident within city limits and established subdivisions; rural attendance zones can involve longer bus routes and commutes.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

Roane County property tax is assessed on Tennessee’s assessment ratios (e.g., residential assessed at 25% of appraised value) and then taxed at local rates set by the county and, where applicable, municipalities.

• Effective tax burden (proxy): Tennessee counties commonly fall near ~0.6%–0.8% effective property tax rate of market value for owner‑occupied housing, varying by jurisdiction and city/county overlap. Roane County generally aligns with that statewide range.
• Typical homeowner cost (proxy): Applying that effective range to a mid‑$200,000s home implies annual property tax costs commonly in the low‑to‑mid $1,000s (countywide average ballpark), with higher totals inside some municipal limits and for higher‑value lakefront properties.

Definitive current rates are published by the Roane County Trustee/Property Assessor and municipal finance pages; Tennessee assessment rules are summarized by the Tennessee Comptroller’s property tax overview.