Gallaway, Tennessee Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 609, Gallaway's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Gallaway is a small community located in Tennessee, within Fayette County. The total population is 609. It ranks as the 364th most populous out of 502 Census-designated places in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gallaway is 51.1 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 14.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gallaway is $30,208. This is 57% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 63% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 43.3%. This is 215% 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 25.5%. This is 446% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $184,400. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 39.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 41% lower than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gallaway is Black or African American, making up 66.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 28.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (28.1%) is well below the state average of 71.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (66.2% vs 15.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

7.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 77% 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 75.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gallaway, 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.