Bradford, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Bradford is a small community located in Tennessee, within Gibson County. The total population is 1,385. It ranks as the 263rd most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bradford is 33.3 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 38.9 years. With 29.4% of the population under 18, Bradford has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 12.1% 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 Bradford is $47,361. This is 32% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.0%. This is 75% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Bradford, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $116,000. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $286,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Bradford is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bradford has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.2%. The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

13.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bradford, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.