Known as the "Nursery Capital of the World," McMinnville sits at the heart of Tennessee between Nashville and Chattanooga. Home to 14,000 people, this agricultural hub offers natural beauty and a small-town feel. “It’s quaint and welcoming,” says Dorinda Walker, affiliate broker with Paul Holder Realty & Auction. “People are drawn to the terrain and scenery. You have mountains, flatlands, natural waterfalls and lots of beautiful rivers and lakes. There are a lot of tourist attractions that aren’t super heavily commercialized.” A small commercial hub in the center of the city features historic buildings occupied by independent shops and restaurants.
Common industries include manufacturing and agriculture, with plant nurseries leading the way.
Homes on midsized lots can be found all over McMinnville.
Main Street in McMinnville is home to a variety of boutiques and restaurants.
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Ranch-style homes sprawl on quarter acre lots
The median home price is $263,000, well under the national median. Ranch-style homes and New Traditional homes are most common, often on lots from a quarter-acre to 2 acres. “We have a lot of farms,” says Walker. “And housing is definitely growing, but we’re still growing on a scale that’s a half-acre lot or larger. So not like what you’d see in a typical metropolitan area.”
Downtown, the Historical Preservation Committee dictates guidelines for renovation. “The local people are on board with that because we are revitalizing, but the historic committee preserves the original historic value in a lot of the buildings,” says Walker. She describes the importance of maintaining downtown, not only for the historical value, but also because many buildings and structures function as geographic waypoints. “We’re small-town — people use the landmarks for directions. When people give directions downtown, they’ll say it's either 'before the fountain' or 'after the fountain.' ”
Ranch homes dot the landscape of McMinnville.
McMinnville is home to a variety of houses including newly built traditional houses.
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Theaters, parks and natural landmarks
McMinnville has five parks: Riverfront, Ramsey, Rocket, Pepper Branch and Pistole. The Milner Recreation Center offers a water park and sports fields. In the winter, the city has an ice rink downtown. Serving as the centerpiece of McMinnville, The Park Theater presents live performances in a building dating back to 1939.
Cumberland Caverns, a national natural landmark, features concerts and walking tours.
Milner Recreation Center offers indoor recreation activities for the locals of McMinnville.
Pepper Branch Park offers a place for children to climb safely in McMinnville.
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Restaurants and boutiques in the historic downtown
Downtown is the hub of McMinnville, with shops and restaurants lining historic streets. “In this area, everybody that’s business-minded tries to centrally locate to the downtown,” says Walker. “It's packed.” Popular cuisine choices include BBQ and Mexican food, with coffee shops also taking center stage. Most restaurants are independently and locally owned, with few chains and fast food places to be found.
Vanilla Bean Baking Company offers fresh baked goods and coffee to the residents of McMinnville.
Collins River BBQ in McMinnville is a source of great food, cold craft beers, friendly service and live music.
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Nurseries serve as a major part of the agriculture industry
Home to over 450 nurseries, McMinnville’s climate and soil make it ideal for many plants. Nurseries here cultivate everything from fruit trees to ornamental grasses, generating over $300 million annually for the city. “Almost any tree, shrub and plant around the world has been generated here or grown as a seedling,” says Walker.
McMinnville is known as the "Nursery Capital of the World",
Over 400 nurseries can be found in McMinnville.
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The Warren County School District
The Warren County School District scores a C on Niche. Its 6,500 students are split between nine elementary schools, eight middle schools and three high schools. Motlow State Community College's McMinnville Campus offers more than 75 academic programs.
Warren County High School as of 2024 had a student population of 1,862.
Warren County Middle School offers education to students in grades 6-8 in McMinnville.
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Equidistant to Nashville and Chattanooga
Intersected by U.S. Route 70S and State Route 56, McMinnville offers direct routes to Nashville 76 miles northwest and Chattanooga 74 miles southeast. GO Upper Cumberland Public Transit provides several routes throughout the city. The Nashville International Airport is 72 miles away.
Crime and climate
McMinnville has a humid summers and experiences four seasons.
According to FBI data, the rates of reported violent crime in McMinnville are equal to the Tennessee average and national average, though rates of property crime are lower.
Written By
Stephanie Davison
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Nelson
Video By
Elia Faith Crianza
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Clark Adcock,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in McMinnville, TN sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in McMinnville, TN over the last 12 months is $265,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
100% FINANCING AVAILABLE!! Discover this beautifully updated 4-bedroom, 2-bath ranch in the heart of McMinnville! Nestled on a .42-acre lot in a charming neighborhood, this home offers the perfect blend of privacy and convenience—just minutes from shopping, dining, and Highway 70S. Features include Luxury vinyl plank flooring, an updated kitchen with white shaker cabinets, granite counters and a
Nestled in the heart of McMinnville, TN, this Grand Tutor home is a rare gem, offering over 7 acres of lush, gently rolling land framed by mature trees and charming countryside views. A grand stone entrance and aggregate driveway set the tone for this impressive estate, leading to a stately covered carport and an unconditioned basement with exterior access. Inside, the home's elegance shines,
Great building lot for sale in a convenient Warren County location just outside McMinnville. This cleared lot is ready for your new home with a 3-bedroom soil site and water meter already in place. A double wide manufactured home is allowed, giving you flexible options. There's also another lot available right next door, making it a great opportunity for a builder to put up two spec homes side by
Be the very first to create memories in this beautiful, newly constructed house! You'll love the convenience of being just minutes from all that McMinnville has to offer, including easy access to HWY 55 and the charm of downtown, all while enjoying the peace of a quiet, closed-loop street.Inside, you'll find a bright and airy open floor plan. The modern kitchen is a delight with its
Step inside your 2-bedroom 1-bath apartment with an open floor plan connecting the kitchen, dining, and living area seamlessly, creating a flexible space for easy living and entertaining. Abundant natural light, gleaming wooden floors, and a well-equipped open kitchen with lovely wooden cabinets. The bedroom is generously sized with ample closet space. This home is equipped with the amenities of
---- SCHEDULE A SHOWING ONLINE AT: ----Fall in love with this lovely 2-bedroom 1-bath duplex. This home features a relaxing covered front porch, an open floor plan that allows for a seamless flow between spaces, and a compact well-equipped kitchen. The bedrooms are good-sized with ample closet space. Enjoy the modern-day conveniences of a washer and dryer hook-up, a smart home system, and
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