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Carthage

A town of 2,327 people in Tennessee
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Around town

The places and views that make it Carthage

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Landmark of the day

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Fite-Williams-Ligon House

Fite-Williams-Ligon House

Built 1850 · on the Register since 2003

The Fite-Williams-Ligon House is a historic mansion in Carthage, Tennessee in the United States.

6 on the National Register · #48 in TNHistoric places →
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Know Carthage

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Carthage

Town in Tennessee, United States
1789Established
2,291Population
2.9 sq miArea
515 ftElevation

Carthage is a town in and the county seat of Smith County, Tennessee, United States; it is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, Carthage had a population of 2,291. It is located on the Cumberland River, which was important to its early development. It is best known as the hometown of former U.S. Vice President and Senator Al Gore of the Democratic Party and his father, Senator Albert Gore, Sr. The younger Gore announced his 1988 and 2000 presidential bids, as well as his 1992 vice-presidential bid, from the steps of the Smith County Courthouse.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code37030
Area code615
Living in Carthage

Housing in Carthage

$284K▲ 3.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Carthage home is worth about $284,000, up 3.5% in a year, 15% below the Tennessee typical home.

Only 2 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Carthage

C−

Safety Grade C-

Carthage reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 83% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000
Carthage 3.5
Tennessee 5
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Carthage 21.2
Tennessee 16.6
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Carthage

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Most working residents leave Carthage for work: only 11% work in town. The top destinations are Lebanon (12%), Gordonsville (8%) and South Carthage (5%). Half commute less than 30 miles.

Lebanon
12%
Gordonsville
8%
South Carthage
5%
Murfreesboro
4%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Carthage →

Health in Carthage

C

Health Grade C

Healthier than 30% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Tennessee

1better than TN·1worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Highpoint Health-Riverview With Ascension Saint ThCarthage · 0.6 mi · ER · rural critical access
Smith County Health Department Community Health CenterCarthage · 1.6 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Carthage · CMS · HRSAHealth in Carthage →

Natural hazards in Carthage

48
Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 48% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Carthage →

Climate in Carthage

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Carthage has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 28°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

51° / 30°Winter
71° / 46°Spring
88° / 66°Summer
72° / 48°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Carthage →

Schools in Carthage

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B−

School Grade B-

The public schools Carthage’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 52% of Tennessee’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictSmith CountySchools2

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within TN. Ratings are from neighbors.

Carthage’s library

Library details →
Smith County Public Library215 North Main Street · part of Smith County Public Library
E-books32 hrs a week
IMLS Public Libraries Survey · FY2024Smith County Public Library →

Famous people from Carthage

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How things work in Carthage

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01