Cowan, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

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

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 30.8% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cowan, Tennessee had a total population of 1,934, the 223rd largest city in Tennessee, with a median household income of $46,406, which is 33% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 30.8%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 33% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (30.8%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Unemployment rate of 10.5% is notably above the national average.

Cowan Quick Facts

Population 1,93490% MOE ±438

Median Household Income $46,40690% MOE ±$14,251

Median Home Value $174,50090% MOE ±$25,044

Poverty Rate 30.8%90% MOE ±8.3 pts

Unemployment Rate 10.5%90% MOE ±6.4 pts

Median Age 35.6 years90% MOE ±7.1 years

Homeownership Rate 59.5%90% MOE ±5.7 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.8x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.3%90% MOE ±3.9 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 85.4%

Diversity Index 31/100

Population 1,934 223rd of 502

Median Income $46,406 bottom 30%

Poverty Rate 30.8% 147% higher than national

Median Home Value $174,500 below average

How Cowan 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	1,313	1,934	+47.3%
Median household income	$33,252	$46,406	No clear change (+39.6%)
Median home value¹	$96,734	$174,500	+80.4%
Median gross rent	$698	$787	No clear change (+12.8%)

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

How Cowan Compares

Median Household Income

Cowan

$46,406

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Cowan

$174,500

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 24.6%

$25K-$50K 27.0%

$50K-$100K 35.9%

$100K+ 12.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

10.8%

$10K-$15K

5.3%

$15K-$20K

2.2%

$20K-$25K

6.3%

$25K-$30K

2.4%

$30K-$35K

3.5%

$35K-$40K

12.9%

$40K-$45K

5.3%

$45K-$50K

2.9%

$50K-$60K

9.3%

$60K-$75K

10.3%

$75K-$100K

16.2%

$100K-$125K

6.5%

$125K-$150K

3.7%

$150K-$200K

2.0%

$200K+

0.3%

Employment

10.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

51.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 59.5%

Renter 40.5%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $787/mo 20.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

32.1%

18-34

17.0%

35-54

20.4%

55-74

23.5%

75+

7.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

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+)

Cowan Rankings in Tennessee

#223 Population of 502

#347 Median Income of 453

#333 Education of 502

#281 Home Value of 464

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

Other Cities in Franklin County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Winchester	9,799	$62,782	13.5%	$216,900
Decherd	2,976	$37,575	18.8%	$144,600
Sewanee	2,936	$136,111	12.0%	$465,500
Estill Springs	2,695	$59,205	13.6%	$204,000
Monteagle	1,926	$63,438	13.0%	$309,500
Huntland	1,532	$66,308	11.6%	$183,100
Belvidere	82	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Sherwood	43	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Cities Similar to Cowan

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
East Cleveland	1,934	$48,878	$124,100	0.0%	26.5%
Decatur	1,898	$42,578	$220,900	11.2%	34.3%
Hunter	1,918	$51,815	$169,500	16.6%	13.7%
Halls (Lauderdale County)	2,034	$43,750	$137,200	9.0%	16.6%
Surgoinsville	1,911	$53,854	$189,100	21.5%	17.0%

Population Overview

Cowan is a small community located in Tennessee, within Franklin County. The total population is 1,934. It ranks as the 223rd most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cowan is 35.6 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.9 years. With 32.1% of the population under 18, Cowan has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cowan is $46,406. This is 33% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 30.8%. This is 124% 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 10.5%. This is 124% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $174,500. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 59.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cowan is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

Education

13.3% 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 85.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cowan, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cowan, Tennessee?

Cowan, Tennessee has a population of 1,934 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Cowan, TN?

The median household income in Cowan is $46,406, which is 43% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Cowan, TN?

The poverty rate in Cowan is 30.8%. This means approximately 590 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Cowan, Tennessee?

Cowan's population is 82.3% White, 12.7% Black, 1.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Cowan, TN?

The median home value in Cowan is $174,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x.

How educated is Cowan, Tennessee?

13.3% of adults (25+) in Cowan hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.