Chester County, Tennessee
A shallow water table limits basements on 45% of Chester County's mapped land, a higher share than 62% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 4%.
100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 36% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1989.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Chester County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 4.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 45.1% |
| Septic fields very limited | 93.5% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 7.2% |
| Mapped soil | 184,700 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Smithdale | 27% | 0% |
| Luverne | 8% | n/a |
| Providence | 7% | n/a |
| Lexington | 7% | n/a |
| Savannah | 6% | n/a |
| Ruston | 5% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas TN023 (2025-08-28)
What the numbers mean here
On 45% of Chester County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 42.69 in, 13.20 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 55.89 in.
USDA rates 94% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
100% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 32 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 16 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 100% |
| D2 severe or worse | 100% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 54.2% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Chester County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 55.89 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 42.69 in (-13.20) |
| 2025 | 50.25 in (-5.64) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2018: 74.75 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1941: 34.46 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at SELMER (18 mi away) | 18.4 |
Homes
| Housing units | 7,279 |
| Median year built | 1989 |
| Built before 1980 | 36% |
| Built 2000 or later | 29% |
| Owner-occupied | 75% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $164,400 |
| Single-family detached | 79% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNairy County, TN | 17 mi | 5% | 38% |
| Madison County, TN | 18 mi | 0% | 46% |
| Henderson County, TN | 20 mi | 1% | 40% |
| Hardeman County, TN | 25 mi | 7% | 39% |
| Hardin County, TN | 28 mi | 2% | 36% |
| Decatur County, TN | 31 mi | 1% | 46% |
| Alcorn County, MS | 37 mi | 2% | 63% |
| Carroll County, TN | 39 mi | 0% | 50% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 28, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status