DeKalb County, Tennessee Demographics 2026
DeKalb County, Tennessee has a population of 20,551, the 65th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $48,484 and the median home value is $206,600. The poverty rate is 21.4%.
DeKalb County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 DeKalb County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithville | 5,158 | $29,507 | 38.3% | $153,500 |
| Alexandria | 1,145 | $48,542 | 28.6% | $213,000 |
| Dowelltown | 382 | $37,917 | 38.2% | $155,100 |
| Liberty | 367 | $44,205 | 18.5% | $182,100 |
Explore Tennessee Rankings
Population Overview
DeKalb County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 20,551. It is the 65th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in DeKalb County is 42.2 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in DeKalb County is $48,484. This is 28% lower than the state median of $67,097. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 21.4%. This is 55% 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 6.0%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $206,600. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 67.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
DeKalb County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.5%. The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.
Education
20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower 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 82.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for DeKalb County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), 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 DeKalb County, Tennessee?
DeKalb County has a population of 20,551, making it the 65th most populous county in Tennessee.
What is the median income in DeKalb County?
The median household income in DeKalb County is $48,484 with a poverty rate of 21.4%.
How many cities are in DeKalb County, Tennessee?
DeKalb County contains 4 Census-designated places.