Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Tennessee

Best Places to Live in Tennessee

Every Tennessee county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Fentress County leads at 86/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Tennessee ranks #5 for homesteading and #11 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Tennessee

    How Tennessee treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 95 Tennessee counties, ranked

    1. 1Fentress County86
    2. 2Pickett County86
    3. 3Houston County86
    4. 4Stewart County85
    5. 5Bledsoe County81
    6. 6Lewis County81
    7. 7Van Buren County81
    8. 8Humphreys County81
    9. 9Lawrence County80
    10. 10Hancock County79
    11. 11McNairy County79
    12. 12Perry County79
    13. 13Claiborne County79
    14. 14Decatur County78
    15. 15Overton County78
    16. 16Scott County78
    17. 17Johnson County77
    18. 18Wayne County77
    19. 19Carroll County76
    20. 20Benton County76
    21. 21Hardin County76
    22. 22Clay County76
    23. 23Henry County76
    24. 24Rhea County75
    25. 25Hawkins County74
    26. 26Monroe County73
    27. 27Giles County73
    28. 28Grainger County73
    29. 29Henderson County73
    30. 30Campbell County73
    31. 31Hickman County73
    32. 32Obion County72
    33. 33Grundy County72
    34. 34Cumberland County72
    35. 35Jackson County72
    36. 36White County71
    37. 37Morgan County71
    38. 38Macon County71
    39. 39DeKalb County71
    40. 40Warren County70
    41. 41McMinn County70
    42. 42Putnam County70
    43. 43Union County69
    44. 44Polk County69
    45. 45Marion County69
    46. 46Weakley County68
    47. 47Cocke County68
    48. 48Lake County68
    49. 49Chester County67
    50. 50Smith County67
    51. 51Franklin County67
    52. 52Montgomery County67
    53. 53Moore County67
    54. 54Sequatchie County66
    55. 55Hardeman County66
    56. 56Maury County65
    57. 57Blount County65
    58. 58Gibson County65
    59. 59Meigs County65
    60. 60Coffee County65
    61. 61Trousdale County64
    62. 62Roane County64
    63. 63Lauderdale County63
    64. 64Greene County63
    65. 65Haywood County63
    66. 66Unicoi County62
    67. 67Madison County62
    68. 68Sullivan County62
    69. 69Fayette County62
    70. 70Lincoln County61
    71. 71Cannon County61
    72. 72Dickson County61
    73. 73Dyer County61
    74. 74Robertson County60
    75. 75Hamblen County60
    76. 76Washington County60
    77. 77Wilson County59
    78. 78Marshall County59
    79. 79Carter County59
    80. 80Bedford County59
    81. 81Jefferson County58
    82. 82Tipton County58
    83. 83Loudon County58
    84. 84Sumner County57
    85. 85Cheatham County56
    86. 86Crockett County56
    87. 87Bradley County56
    88. 88Anderson County55
    89. 89Hamilton County55
    90. 90Williamson County55
    91. 91Sevier County55
    92. 92Knox County54
    93. 93Shelby County52
    94. 94Rutherford County52
    95. 95Davidson County47

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