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Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Tennessee has a total population of 6,986,082, with a median household income of $67,097, which is 15% lower the national average. The poverty rate is 13.8%.

Tennessee Quick Facts

Population 6,986,082
Median Household Income $67,097
Median Home Value $256,800
Poverty Rate 13.8%
Unemployment Rate 4.7%
Median Age 38.9 years
Homeownership Rate 67.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 30.4%
High School Graduation 89.6%
Counties 95
Cities/Places 504
Population 6,986,082
Median Income $67,097 15% lower national
Poverty Rate 13.8%
Unemployment 4.7%

Economy & Housing

Employment

4.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7% | National: 5.2%
62.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.0%
Renter 33.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.8x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

46out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 60

Education

Largest Cities in Tennessee

#CityPopulationMedian IncomePoverty
1Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)684,298$75,19714.1%
2Memphis city629,063$51,21122.5%
3Knoxville city193,721$50,99420.5%
4Chattanooga city182,832$61,02817.6%
5Clarksville city171,897$66,78612.8%
6Murfreesboro city157,547$76,24110.0%
7Franklin city85,575$115,0004.8%
8Johnson City city71,455$55,42921.1%
9Jackson city68,098$51,55222.7%
10Hendersonville city62,390$91,5036.3%

Richest Cities in Tennessee

#CityMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+
1Forest Hills city$250,001$1,142,20077.6%
2Belle Meade city$250,001$2,000,00189.0%
3Oak Hill city$202,614$1,085,10080.4%
4Lookout Mountain town$195,063$761,60088.4%
5Brentwood city$184,720$926,70074.5%
6Nolensville town$170,068$695,10068.3%
7Germantown city$144,799$441,20071.2%
8Farragut town$142,402$513,10065.1%
9Signal Mountain town$139,714$482,30073.7%
10Walden town$135,000$600,90064.0%

Most Affordable Cities in Tennessee

By home-value-to-income ratio (lower = more affordable). Min. population 1,000.

#CityRatioHome ValueIncome
1Linden town1.4x$80,000$57,212
2Trezevant town1.4x$96,200$67,813
3Gleason town1.4x$83,700$58,906
4South Fulton city1.7x$87,400$51,875
5Collinwood city1.7x$89,100$52,083
6Henning town1.7x$75,000$43,616
7Dodson Branch CDP1.8x$124,000$69,423
8Waynesboro city1.8x$81,400$45,000
9Banner Hill CDP1.8x$120,700$66,270
10Rutherford town1.8x$91,500$50,000

All Counties in Tennessee (95)

City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Shelby County922,195$62,33717.5%$229,700
Davidson County709,846$75,66413.9%$386,600
Knox County487,401$71,66212.3%$279,700
Hamilton County370,913$72,56812.5%$282,100
Rutherford County351,591$82,5889.2%$346,400
Williamson County254,609$131,2024.5%$673,700
Montgomery County227,957$72,36511.6%$248,300
Sumner County200,553$86,0058.9%$364,000
Sullivan County159,693$56,80214.9%$190,800
Wilson County153,587$94,0487.6%$397,000
Blount County137,747$74,6078.9%$275,700
Washington County134,693$61,05115.8%$231,700
Bradley County109,743$63,78913.1%$230,800
Maury County104,855$74,16210.0%$307,500
Madison County98,845$58,18918.6%$189,700
Sevier County98,802$63,82913.6%$259,500
Putnam County81,366$56,53716.9%$246,800
Anderson County78,175$63,17114.8%$215,800
Robertson County74,291$78,43910.2%$296,700
Greene County70,919$54,07115.2%$186,400
Hamblen County64,930$52,79417.2%$188,800
Cumberland County62,529$58,47513.4%$228,000
Tipton County61,339$71,73611.6%$220,100
Coffee County58,940$60,65616.1%$227,300
Hawkins County57,446$55,27817.1%$166,900
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All Cities & Places in Tennessee (504)

City ↕Population ↓Median Income ↕Poverty ↕Home Value ↕
Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)684,298$75,19714.1%$383,100
Memphis city629,063$51,21122.5%$157,100
Knoxville city193,721$50,99420.5%$214,000
Chattanooga city182,832$61,02817.6%$259,200
Clarksville city171,897$66,78612.8%$236,100
Murfreesboro city157,547$76,24110.0%$365,100
Franklin city85,575$115,0004.8%$646,300
Johnson City city71,455$55,42921.1%$238,000
Jackson city68,098$51,55222.7%$195,000
Hendersonville city62,390$91,5036.3%$396,500
Bartlett city56,998$100,6606.0%$283,700
Kingsport city55,807$50,43620.8%$203,000
Smyrna town55,066$78,40911.5%$326,700
Spring Hill city53,585$106,6584.2%$452,400
Collierville town51,212$134,3192.6%$458,300
Cleveland city48,185$55,90417.4%$241,800
Gallatin city46,667$73,58912.4%$343,700
Brentwood city45,272$184,7202.5%$926,700
Columbia city43,971$61,20414.3%$261,700
Lebanon city41,951$71,32014.0%$359,300
Mount Juliet city40,828$107,8474.1%$423,000
Germantown city40,812$144,7992.9%$441,200
La Vergne city38,944$80,41811.4%$273,700
Cookeville city35,544$48,50121.9%$263,800
Maryville city32,196$79,3408.1%$310,600
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Download Tennessee Data

Free CSV downloads of Tennessee demographic data — no account or payment required.

Population Overview

Tennessee has a total population of 6,986,082, making it a mid-sized state in the nation. The median age is 38.9 years, about average the national median of 38.7 years.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tennessee is 38.9 years. This is about average than the state median of 38.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tennessee is $67,097. This is 15% lower than the state median of $78,538. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $256,800. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $303,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 67.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 65.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tennessee is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 19.0%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

30.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 35.0%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Tennessee?

Tennessee has a total population of 6,986,082 according to the U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median income in Tennessee?

The median household income in Tennessee is $67,097, which is 15% lower the national median of $78,538.

How many cities are in Tennessee?

Tennessee has 504 Census-designated places (cities, towns, and CDPs) and 95 counties.

What is the poverty rate in Tennessee?

The poverty rate in Tennessee is 13.8%, compared to the national average of 12.4%.

What is the largest city in Tennessee?

The largest city in Tennessee is Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance) with a population of 684,298.