Cookeville city, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cookeville city is a mid-sized community located in Tennessee. The total population is 35,544. It ranks as the 24th most populous out of 504 cities and towns in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cookeville city is 29.6 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cookeville city is $48,501. This is 28% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 21.9%. This is 59% 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 unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $263,800. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 41.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cookeville city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.2%. The Black or African American population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.2% vs 7.1%).

Education

35.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cookeville city, Tennessee is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Tennessee state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 504 Census-designated places in Tennessee. For official data, visit data.census.gov.