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 91/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Tennessee ranks #4 for homesteading and #5 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 County91
    2. 2Pickett County89
    3. 3Stewart County88
    4. 4Hancock County87
    5. 5Van Buren County87
    6. 6Bledsoe County84
    7. 7Lewis County84
    8. 8Humphreys County84
    9. 9Hardin County83
    10. 10Clay County83
    11. 11Wayne County82
    12. 12Houston County82
    13. 13Claiborne County81
    14. 14McNairy County81
    15. 15Lawrence County81
    16. 16Perry County81
    17. 17Decatur County81
    18. 18Overton County81
    19. 19Johnson County80
    20. 20Scott County80
    21. 21Hickman County80
    22. 22Carroll County79
    23. 23Benton County79
    24. 24Rhea County79
    25. 25Jackson County79
    26. 26Henry County78
    27. 27Monroe County76
    28. 28Grainger County76
    29. 29Campbell County76
    30. 30Henderson County76
    31. 31Obion County75
    32. 32Hawkins County75
    33. 33Giles County75
    34. 34Grundy County75
    35. 35Macon County75
    36. 36White County75
    37. 37Morgan County75
    38. 38Cumberland County74
    39. 39Warren County74
    40. 40Union County73
    41. 41Polk County73
    42. 42Putnam County73
    43. 43DeKalb County73
    44. 44McMinn County73
    45. 45Lake County71
    46. 46Franklin County71
    47. 47Smith County71
    48. 48Chester County71
    49. 49Marion County71
    50. 50Montgomery County71
    51. 51Weakley County70
    52. 52Cocke County70
    53. 53Lauderdale County70
    54. 54Moore County70
    55. 55Hardeman County69
    56. 56Blount County69
    57. 57Sequatchie County69
    58. 58Meigs County68
    59. 59Coffee County68
    60. 60Trousdale County68
    61. 61Gibson County67
    62. 62Maury County67
    63. 63Roane County67
    64. 64Haywood County67
    65. 65Greene County66
    66. 66Unicoi County66
    67. 67Lincoln County65
    68. 68Fayette County65
    69. 69Sullivan County65
    70. 70Cannon County65
    71. 71Dickson County65
    72. 72Dyer County65
    73. 73Robertson County64
    74. 74Madison County64
    75. 75Hamblen County64
    76. 76Washington County63
    77. 77Marshall County63
    78. 78Carter County62
    79. 79Tipton County62
    80. 80Wilson County61
    81. 81Bedford County61
    82. 82Sumner County60
    83. 83Jefferson County60
    84. 84Loudon County59
    85. 85Crockett County59
    86. 86Cheatham County59
    87. 87Bradley County59
    88. 88Williamson County58
    89. 89Hamilton County58
    90. 90Anderson County58
    91. 91Sevier County58
    92. 92Knox County56
    93. 93Rutherford County53
    94. 94Shelby County53
    95. 95Davidson County50

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