Ripley is a city in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, Ripley had a population of 7,800. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County.

Official town website ↗

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

How Ripley ranks

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#21Most affordable in TN #23Lowest depression in TN #49Cheapest rent in TN All TN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code38063

Area code731

Living in Ripley

Housing in Ripley

$149K▲ 15.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Ripley home is worth about $149,000, up 15.8% in a year, 55% below the Tennessee typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Ripley

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Ripley reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Ripley 14.7

Tennessee 5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Ripley 17.1

Tennessee 16.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Ripley

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About one in 4 of Ripley’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Covington (12%), Memphis (12%) and Jackson (8%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

Covington

12%

Memphis

12%

Jackson

Dyersburg

27%Work in townlive and work in Ripley 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 4,238Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Ripley →

Health in Ripley

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 1% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Tennessee

2better than TN·17worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 7 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 9▼ 2 close Habits 1▲ 3▼ 0 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 3▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.7%Fewer binge drinkersTN 14.6% · better 6.9%Fewer adults who have had cancerTN 8.2% · better 28.9%More older adults who have lost all their teethTN 14.6% · worse

Care nearby

Lauderdale Community HospitalRipley · 2.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Lauderdale County Medical ClinicRipley · 1.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Ripley · CMS · HRSAHealth in Ripley →

Natural hazards in Ripley

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌪️ Tornadoes🌊 Inland flooding

11Does Ripley flood?paid flood claims since 1978 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Ripley

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Ripley →

Climate in Ripley

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Ripley has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 2 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

50° / 33°Winter

71° / 50°Spring

89° / 69°Summer

72° / 51°Fall

How much snow does Ripley get?About 2 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 6, with the last in spring around Mar 26.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Ripley →

Schools in Ripley

All Ripley schools →

School Grade D

The public schools Ripley’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 87% of Tennessee’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Ripley’s schools compare in TN →

DistrictLauderdale CountySchools4

Ripley PrimaryElementary · Grades PK–2 · 589 students Ripley Elementary C-Elementary · Grades 3–5 · 460 students Ripley Middle School DMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 477 students Ripley High School C-High · Grades 9–12 · 614 students

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.