Benton County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Benton County, Tennessee has a population of 16,006, the 77th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $51,746 and the median home value is $153,600. The poverty rate is 17.8%.

Benton County Quick Facts

Population 16,006

Median Household Income $51,74690% MOE ±$7,216

Median Home Value $153,60090% MOE ±$12,015

Poverty Rate 17.8%90% MOE ±2.9 pts

Unemployment Rate 5.3%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Median Age 47.8 years90% MOE ±0.7 years

Homeownership Rate 75.1%90% MOE ±2.9 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.0x

Bachelor's Degree+ 12.8%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 88.5%

Cities/Places 4

Population 16,006 77th of 95

Median Income $51,746 26% lower than state

Poverty Rate 17.8%

Unemployment 5.3%

How Benton County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	16,140	16,006	-0.8%
Median household income	$46,166	$51,746	No clear change (+12.1%)
Median home value¹	$105,349	$153,600	+45.8%
Median gross rent	$810	$768	No clear change (-5.2%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Benton

$51,746

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Benton

$153,600

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.9%

$25K-$50K 27.7%

$50K-$100K 33.3%

$100K+ 18.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.4%

$10K-$15K

4.6%

$15K-$20K

6.2%

$20K-$25K

3.8%

$25K-$30K

5.1%

$30K-$35K

6.0%

$35K-$40K

7.3%

$40K-$45K

5.3%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

7.5%

$60K-$75K

12.7%

$75K-$100K

13.2%

$100K-$125K

7.6%

$125K-$150K

3.2%

$150K-$200K

4.7%

$200K+

2.6%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

50.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.1%

Renter 24.9%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $768/mo 17.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.2%

18-34

16.7%

35-54

22.9%

55-74

30.3%

75+

10.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Benton County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Camden	3,678	$55,029	19.8%	$155,200
Big Sandy	507	$47,500	18.5%	$70,000
Holladay	130	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Eva	109	$40,000	25.7%	$154,900

Explore Tennessee Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Benton County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 16,006. It is the 77th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benton County is 47.8 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 10.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benton County is $51,746. This is 26% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $153,600. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Benton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.8%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Benton County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Tennessee and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Benton County, Tennessee?

Benton County has a population of 16,006, making it the 77th most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Benton County?

The median household income in Benton County is $51,746 with a poverty rate of 17.8%.

How many cities are in Benton County, Tennessee?

Benton County contains 4 Census-designated places.