Fayette County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fayette County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 42,653. It is the 37th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fayette County is 47.2 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fayette County is $84,764. This is 26% higher than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 8% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.8%. This is 21% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $316,000. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 80.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Fayette County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 26.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (26.8% vs 15.7%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

26.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% 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 90.9%.