Fentress County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fentress County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 18,948. It is the 69th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fentress County is 47.0 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fentress County is $50,865. This is 24% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 52% 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 4.4%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $151,800. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 80.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fentress County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

15.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% 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 83.2%.